BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 2261
	By: Blanco
	Health & Human Services
	5/30/2023
	Enrolled

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The Department of Family Protective Services (DFPS) experiences massive caseworker turnover, in part due to the mechanics of their training program. This program is required to be comprehensive, therefore, it does not spend enough time training on the "hands on" building blocks of casework practice such as case initiation and conducting face-to-face interviews. While the current curriculum meets statutory requirements, it does not meet program needs, nor does it reflect the reality of casework practice or the types of cases new workers are assigned. According to DFPS, once new employees are out of training and become case assignable, turnover increases as they have been inadequately prepared for the demands of actual casework. Changing the training requirements will allow DFPS greater freedom in building a more realistic, practical training program for new employees, which will adequately prepare them for the responsibilities they will have when they leave the program, thereby reducing turnover.

S.B. 2261 will amend Chapter 40, Human Resources Code, to remove the statutory requirement of a newly hired caseworker to fully complete the training program before initiating an investigation and providing protective services.

The committee substitute to S.B. 2261 will add a provision to ensure that a caseworker in training is under the supervision of a trainer when initiating an investigation and providing protective services while in the course of their training.

S.B. 2261 amends current law relating to the training program required for certain employees of the Department of Family and Protective Services.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 40.035, Human Resources Code, by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (a-1), as follows:

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(a) Requires the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to develop and implement a training program that, except as provided by Subsection (a-1), each newly hired or assigned DFPS employee is required to successfully complete before taking on certain duties.

(a-1) Authorizes a newly hired or assigned DFPS employee to initiate an investigation of a report of alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an elderly person or a person with a disability under Chapter 48 (Investigations and Protective Services for Elderly Persons and Persons With Disabilities) or provide protective services to an elderly person or a person with a disability under that chapter only if the employee:

(1) is in the process of receiving the training required by Subsection (a); and

(2) initiates the investigation or provides protective services under the direct supervision of the person who is providing the training to the employee.

(b) Requires that the training program meet certain criteria, including providing the employee, rather than the person, with certain appropriate comprehensive information.

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SECTION 2. Makes application of Section 40.035, Human Resources Code, as amended by this Act, prospective.

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SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2023.� �