By Brady H.B. No. 2566 74R7705 MJW-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to operations of the Department of Protective and 1-3 Regulatory Services. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 13, Article 4413(503), Revised Statutes, 1-6 is amended by adding Subsections (f) and (g) to read as follows: 1-7 (f) The department shall designate a communications officer 1-8 to be the department employee with primary responsibility for 1-9 communicating with the public regarding the department's powers and 1-10 duties. The individual designated under this subsection shall: 1-11 (1) oversee the department's communications with 1-12 persons seeking to report abuse or neglect or inquiring about the 1-13 status of a case; 1-14 (2) encourage monitoring of cases under investigation 1-15 by the department; and 1-16 (3) oversee the department's response to questions 1-17 from the public within the department's confidentiality guidelines. 1-18 (g) The department shall develop and implement a 1-19 communication plan in each county to ensure public and government 1-20 awareness of abuse investigated by the department. In implementing 1-21 the plan, the department shall establish a process for expediting 1-22 the reporting of abuse to the department. The department shall 1-23 adopt rules to implement this subsection. 1-24 SECTION 2. Article 4413(503), Revised Statutes, is amended 2-1 by adding Sections 16 through 18 to read as follows: 2-2 Sec. 16. INCENTIVE PLAN FOR CASEWORKERS AND INVESTIGATORS. 2-3 To encourage dedicated and talented caseworkers and investigators 2-4 to continue their employment with the department, the department 2-5 shall seek and provide additional funding for salaries for those 2-6 positions, with the goal of increasing the average length of 2-7 employment for caseworkers and investigators to five years by the 2-8 year 2002. 2-9 Sec. 17. EMERGENCY SERVICES FUND. (a) The department shall 2-10 establish a fund for use by caseworkers in providing emergency 2-11 services and necessary items to a child or family served by the 2-12 department. The department shall develop procedures that ensure 2-13 that caseworkers can easily gain access to the fund in an 2-14 emergency. 2-15 (b) The department by rule may provide for a procedure 2-16 through which an adult recipient of services or necessary items 2-17 purchased with money from the fund may agree to undertake certain 2-18 activities, such as attending counseling, as repayment for the 2-19 expenditure from the fund. 2-20 Sec. 18. COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT AUDIT. (a) Not later 2-21 than January 1, 1996, the department shall contract with an 2-22 independent auditor for the performance of a comprehensive 2-23 management audit of the department. Results of the audit shall be 2-24 submitted to the Health and Human Services Commission, the 2-25 governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of 2-26 representatives not later than January 1, 1997. 2-27 (b) This section expires January 2, 1997. 3-1 SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 34, Family Code, is amended 3-2 by adding Section 34.09 to read as follows: 3-3 Sec. 34.09. REPORT OF DEATHS RESULTING FROM CHILD ABUSE. 3-4 The department shall document the number of deaths resulting from 3-5 child abuse in cases reported to the department and shall submit 3-6 the information in a report to the legislature not later than 3-7 January 1 of each odd-numbered year. 3-8 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995. 3-9 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the 3-10 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-11 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-12 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-13 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.