By: Shaheen H.B. No. 4956

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) information regarding calls to the department's abuse hotline that were placed by a parent, including:

(i) the number of calls;

(ii) the person or division in the department to which each call was routed; and

(iii) the number of calls classified by the department as an information and referral report; and

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

(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 that is assigned an investigation;

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

(E) the total number of cases classified as alternative response cases by the department;

(F) the total number of alternative response cases that are later opened for a traditional investigation;

(G) the average number of days to close a case that is classified as an alternative response case by the department;

(H) 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;

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

(J) 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; and

(K) the total number of children removed from their home sorted by the reason for removal or allegation type;

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

(A) the total number of cases opened, sorted by cases in which the parent is receiving services from the department:

(i) voluntarily; or

(ii) under a court order;

(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;

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

(M) the performance and outcomes of community-based care sorted by catchment area;

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

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

(6) with respect to parental child safety placement agreements:

(A) the number of children placed under a parental child safety placement agreement;

(B) the average duration of a placement under a parental child safety placement agreement;

(C) the average duration of a placement under a parental child safety placement agreement during an investigation; and

(D) the percentage of children removed from a placement under a parental child safety placement agreement and placed in the managing conservatorship of the department.

(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). The third party must:

(1) be a Texas-based university;

(2) be independent of the department; and

(3) have demonstrated expertise in statistical, financial, actuarial, logistical, and operational analysis.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.