SRC-CTC S.B. 962 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 962 By: Moncrief Health & Human Services 4/19/2001 5/23/2001 DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, the turnover rate for child protective services (CPS) caseworkers in Dallas and Tarrant counties is 43 and 25 percent, respectively. Current caps on full-time employees prevents the training academy from enrolling enough trainees to fill vacant positions since trainees count toward the full-time employee cap, even though the trainees do not actively work on cases. S.B. 962 creates a pilot program in a region of the state with the highest percentage of unfilled caseworker positions and highest caseworker turnover rate to temporarily increase the enrollment of CPS trainees to twice the current limit to address the shortage of CPS workers. 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. DEFINITIONS. Defines "caseworker," "department," "pilot project," "target region," and "target training academy." SECTION 2. PILOT PROJECT. Establishes a pilot project to aid a target region having the highest percentage of authorized caseworker positions unfilled and the highest caseworker turnover rate in meeting its needs for caseworkers. SECTION 3. DEPARTMENT DUTIES. Requires the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (department), for the duration of the pilot project, to perform certain tasks. SECTION 4. DURATION OF PILOT PROGRAM. Authorizes the department to terminate the pilot project if the department determines that the number of caseworkers serving the public in the target region equals or exceeds the number of authorized caseworker positions as that number existed immediately before the effective date of this Act. SECTION 5. REPORT. Requires the department to submit a report to the legislature regarding the impact of the pilot program on the retention of caseworkers. SECTION 6. Effective date: September 1, 2001.