By: Campbell S.B. No. 1079

(In the Senate - Filed March 5, 2021; March 18, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on Health & Human Services; April 19, 2021, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; April 19, 2021, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1079 By: Buckingham

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to monthly reports of certain activity of the Department of Family and Protective Services.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 264.017, Family Code, is amended by adding Subsections (f), (g), and (h) to read as follows:

(f) In addition to the other reports required by this section, the department shall publish a monthly report containing the following information for the preceding month:

(1) with respect to statewide intake:

(A) the number of child abuse, neglect, or exploitation reports received sorted by the source of the report;

(B) the number of child abuse, neglect, or exploitation reports that met the statutory definition of child abuse, neglect, or exploitation that were referred for investigation sorted by the type of allegation and the number of reports that were confirmed as abuse, neglect, or exploitation after an investigation;

(C) the average time to process an electronic report of child abuse, neglect, or exploitation;

(D) the average hold time for calls to the department's abuse hotline;

(E) the percentage of calls to the department's abuse hotline that were abandoned before the caller spoke with a person; and

(F) the number of calls received by the Texas Youth Helpline regarding runaway youth;

(2) with respect to child protective investigations:

(A) the total number of cases opened;

(B) the total number of cases completed and closed sorted by the manner in which the case was closed;

(C) the average number of days to close a case;

(D) the total number of cases opened at residential child-care facilities;

(E) the total percentage of cases assigned the highest and second highest priorities the investigations of which were started within the time required by Section 261.301;

(F) the total number of cases for which the determination was changed after an administrative review within 12 months of the date of the determination; and

(G) the percentage of alleged victims in investigations that were closed without providing services for which, within 12 months of the date the case was closed, the department:

(i) confirmed another allegation of abuse, neglect, or exploitation against the child; or

(ii) opened another stage for services;

(3) with respect to family-based safety services:

(A) the total number of cases opened;

(B) the total number of cases closed;

(C) the average number of days to close a case;

(D) the percentage of cases in which a child was eventually removed from the child's home; and

(E) the percentage of cases which were closed without providing further services for which, within 12 months of the date the case was closed, the department:

(i) confirmed another allegation of abuse, neglect, or exploitation against the child; or

(ii) opened another stage for services;

(4) with respect to conservatorship services:

(A) the total number of children removed from their home;

(B) the total number of children who exited from the managing conservatorship of the department sorted by the manner in which the child exited;

(C) the average number of months a child remained in the managing conservatorship of the department;

(D) the average number of placements a child has while in the managing conservatorship of the department;

(E) the percentage of sibling groups placed with the same foster family;

(F) the percentage of youth who have aged out of foster care and completed the Preparation for Adult Living program;

(G) the percentage of youth who exited from the managing conservatorship of the department to a permanent placement;

(H) the percentage of children who are adopted within 12 months of the date their parent's parental rights were terminated;

(I) the percentage of children in the managing conservatorship of the department for longer than two years who achieve permanency;

(J) the percentage of children who are returned to their parents and for whom, within 12 months of the date the case was closed, the department:

(i) confirmed another allegation of abuse, neglect, or exploitation against the child; or

(ii) opened another stage for services;

(K) the percentage of children in the managing conservatorship of the department who are placed with a relative caregiver; and

(L) the percentage of children in foster care placed in each county in the state;

(5) with respect to residential child-care licensing:

(A) the percentage of investigations in which the department made a high risk finding;

(B) the percentage of child-care facilities with no recent violations;

(C) the number of illegal operations identified, resolved, and pending; and

(D) the number of validated allegations of child abuse, neglect, or exploitation in child-care facilities; and

(6) with respect to staffing in statewide intake, residential child-care investigations, child protective investigations, family-based safety services, and conservatorship services:

(A) the percentage of caseworker turnover;

(B) the total number of caseworkers hired;

(C) the total number of caseworkers terminated;

(D) the average vacancy rate for caseworker positions; and

(E) the average daily caseloads for caseworkers.

(g) The department shall provide the report required by Subsection (f) to the legislature and shall publish the report and make the report available electronically to the public not later than the 30th day after the end of the month for which the report is made.

(h) The department may contract with a third party to assist the department with collecting, analyzing, and reporting the data required under Subsection (f).

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.

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