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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of the division of the ombudsman for |
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children and youth in foster care. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 531.9931, Government Code, as added by |
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Chapter 906 (S.B. 213), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2017, is reenacted and amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.9931. DIVISION OF OMBUDSMAN FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH |
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IN FOSTER CARE. (a) The division of the ombudsman for children and |
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youth in foster care is created within the office of the ombudsman |
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for the purpose of: |
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(1) receiving complaints from children and youth in |
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the conservatorship of the department as provided under Section |
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531.993(a)(1); |
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(2) receiving complaints from a person providing |
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foster care services for children and youth, including |
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child-placing agencies, agency foster homes, specialized |
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child-care homes, general residential operations, cottage home |
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operations, and continuum-of-care residential operations; |
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(3) [(2)] informing children and youth in the |
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conservatorship of the department who file a complaint under this |
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subchapter about the result of the ombudsman's investigation of the |
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complaint, including whether the ombudsman was able to substantiate |
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the child's or youth's complaint; and |
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(4) [(3)] collaborating with the department to |
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develop an outreach plan for children and youth in the |
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conservatorship of the department to promote awareness of the |
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ombudsman. |
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(b) If a child or youth in the conservatorship of the |
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department contacts the ombudsman by telephone call to report a |
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complaint under this subchapter, the call shall be transferred |
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directly to a person employed by the division of the ombudsman |
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created under this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |