BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2058

By: Klick

Juvenile Justice & Family Issues

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

As children develop into adolescence and adulthood, their growth is marked by experiences that contribute to their autonomy and social functioning, shaping who they will become as adults and how successful they may be in life and relationships. These experiences can include spending the night at a friend's house, volunteering in the community, having an after-school job, or playing sports. These types of activities are commonly referred to as normalcy activities. Access to normalcy activities is especially important for empowering young people in substitute care and improving mental health outcomes. H.B. 2058 seeks to ensure that foster children in Texas are able to take part in normalcy activities by providing for the review of normalcy efforts for foster children at certain permanency hearings.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2058 amends the Family Code to require a court, at each permanency hearing after the court renders a final order appointing the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) as permanent managing conservator of a child, to review the efforts of DFPS to ensure the child has regular, ongoing opportunities to engage in age-appropriate normalcy activities, including activities not listed in the child's service plan.

H.B. 2058 repeals Section 263.503, Family Code.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.