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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to monthly reports of certain activity of the Department |
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of Family and Protective Services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 264.017, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (f), (g), and (h) to read as follows: |
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(f) In addition to the other reports required by this |
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section, the department shall publish a monthly report containing |
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the following information for the preceding month: |
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(1) with respect to statewide intake: |
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(A) the number of child abuse, neglect, or |
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exploitation reports received sorted by the source of the report; |
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(B) the number of child abuse, neglect, or |
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exploitation reports that met the statutory definition of child |
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abuse, neglect, or exploitation that were referred for |
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investigation sorted by the type of allegation and the number of |
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reports that were confirmed as abuse, neglect, or exploitation |
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after an investigation; |
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(C) the average time to process an electronic |
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report of child abuse, neglect, or exploitation; |
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(D) the average hold time for calls to the |
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department's abuse hotline; |
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(E) information regarding calls to the |
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department's abuse hotline that were placed by a parent, including: |
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(i) the number of calls; |
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(ii) the person or division in the |
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department to which each call was routed; and |
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(iii) the number of calls classified by the |
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department as an information and referral report; and |
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(F) the percentage of calls to the department's |
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abuse hotline that were abandoned before the caller spoke with a |
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person; |
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(2) with respect to child protective investigations: |
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(A) the total number of cases opened; |
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(B) the total number of cases completed and |
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closed sorted by the manner in which the case was closed; |
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(C) the average number of days to close a case |
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that is assigned an investigation; |
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(D) the total number of cases opened at |
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residential child-care facilities; |
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(E) the total number of cases classified as |
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alternative response cases by the department; |
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(F) the total number of alternative response |
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cases that are later opened for a traditional investigation; |
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(G) the average number of days to close a case |
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that is classified as an alternative response case by the |
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department; |
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(H) the total percentage of cases assigned the |
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highest and second highest priorities the investigations of which |
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were started within the time required by Section 261.301; |
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(I) the total number of cases for which the |
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determination was changed after an administrative review within 12 |
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months of the date of the determination; |
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(J) the percentage of alleged victims in |
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investigations that were closed without providing services for |
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which, within 12 months of the date the case was closed, the |
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department: |
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(i) confirmed another allegation of abuse, |
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neglect, or exploitation against the child; or |
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(ii) opened another stage for services; and |
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(K) the total number of children removed from |
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their home sorted by the reason for removal or allegation type; |
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(3) with respect to family-based safety services: |
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(A) the total number of cases opened, sorted by |
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cases in which the parent is receiving services from the |
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department: |
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(i) voluntarily; or |
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(ii) under a court order; |
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(B) the total number of cases closed; |
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(C) the average number of days to close a case; |
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(D) the percentage of cases in which a child was |
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eventually removed from the child's home; and |
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(E) the percentage of cases which were closed |
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without providing further services for which, within 12 months of |
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the date the case was closed, the department: |
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(i) confirmed another allegation of abuse, |
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neglect, or exploitation against the child; or |
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(ii) opened another stage for services; |
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(4) with respect to conservatorship services: |
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(A) the total number of children removed from |
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their home; |
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(B) the total number of children who exited from |
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the managing conservatorship of the department sorted by the manner |
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in which the child exited; |
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(C) the average number of months a child remained |
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in the managing conservatorship of the department; |
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(D) the average number of placements a child has |
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while in the managing conservatorship of the department; |
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(E) the percentage of sibling groups placed with |
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the same foster family; |
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(F) the percentage of youth who have aged out of |
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foster care and completed the Preparation for Adult Living program; |
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(G) the percentage of youth who exited from the |
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managing conservatorship of the department to a permanent |
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placement; |
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(H) the percentage of children who are adopted |
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within 12 months of the date their parent's parental rights were |
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terminated; |
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(I) the percentage of children in the managing |
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conservatorship of the department for longer than two years who |
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achieve permanency; |
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(J) the percentage of children who are returned |
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to their parents and for whom, within 12 months of the date the case |
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was closed, the department: |
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(i) confirmed another allegation of abuse, |
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neglect, or exploitation against the child; or |
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(ii) opened another stage for services; |
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(K) the percentage of children in the managing |
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conservatorship of the department who are placed with a relative |
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caregiver; |
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(L) the percentage of children in foster care |
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placed in each county in the state; and |
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(M) the performance and outcomes of |
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community-based care sorted by catchment area; |
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(5) with respect to residential child-care licensing, |
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the number of validated allegations of child abuse, neglect, or |
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exploitation in child-care facilities; and |
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(6) with respect to parental child safety placement |
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agreements: |
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(A) the number of children placed under a |
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parental child safety placement agreement; |
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(B) the average duration of a placement under a |
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parental child safety placement agreement; |
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(C) the average duration of a placement under a |
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parental child safety placement agreement during an investigation; |
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and |
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(D) the percentage of children removed from a |
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placement under a parental child safety placement agreement and |
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placed in the managing conservatorship of the department. |
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(g) The department shall provide the report required by |
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Subsection (f) to the legislature and shall publish the report and |
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make the report available electronically to the public not later |
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than the 30th day after the end of the month for which the report is |
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made. |
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(h) The department may contract with a third party to assist |
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the department with collecting, analyzing, and reporting the data |
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required under Subsection (f). The third party must: |
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(1) be a Texas-based university; |
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(2) be independent of the department; and |
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(3) have demonstrated expertise in statistical, |
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financial, actuarial, logistical, and operational analysis. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |