BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 2260

By: Blanco

Human Services

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Since 2005, Adult Protective Services (APS) within the Department of Family and Protective Services has required supervisors to review all cases in which the victim has a history of two or more prior cases. APS began using a structured decision-making tool, called the "Risk of Recidivism Assessment (RORA)," within the agency's casework management system nearly a decade ago. This tool shows APS cases from the previous three years and assists in identifying whether individuals are at risk of future abuse, neglect, or exploitation. The statutory requirement of having an APS supervisor review repeat cases is now unnecessary and repetitive because the casework management system has the functionality to provide the RORA, which takes over the responsibility for identifying recidivistic cases. S.B. 2260 seeks to address this issue by repealing a statutory provision requiring APS supervisors to personally review all repeat cases. With the RORA now able to quickly identify recidivistic cases, APS can develop policy to refine the supervisory review process to focus on the most critical needs and facilitate earlier service delivery to the most vulnerable clients.

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

S.B. 2260 repeals Section 48.1523, Human Resources Code, which requires an adult protective services supervisor of the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), with respect to a reported case of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an elderly person, a person with a disability, or an individual receiving services from certain providers for whom DFPS has received and investigated two previous such reports and closed those investigations, to do the following:

· classify the case as a recidivist case;

· review the reports and investigation files concerning that person; and

· assist the caseworker and supervisor investigating the third report in developing a long-term plan for resolving the issues involved in the case.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.