By:  Moncrief, Shapiro                                 S.B. No. 962
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to a pilot project to address the need for more child
 1-3     protective services workers in certain regions of the state.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS.  In this Act:
 1-6                 (1)  "Caseworker" means a full-time employee who is a
 1-7     child protective service specialist.
 1-8                 (2)  "Department" means the Department of Protective
 1-9     and Regulatory Services.
1-10                 (3)  "Pilot project" means the pilot project
1-11     established by this Act to fill the need for more caseworkers in a
1-12     target region.
1-13                 (4)  "Target region" means a department service region
1-14     of the state in which on the effective date of this Act:
1-15                       (A)  fewer than 80 percent of the authorized
1-16     caseworker positions are filled by caseworkers, excluding the
1-17     caseworkers enrolled in the training academy in the region; and
1-18                       (B)  the highest twelve-month caseworker turnover
1-19     rate exists.
1-20                 (5)  "Target training academy" means a training academy
1-21     that trains caseworkers for the department and that is located in a
1-22     target region.
1-23           SECTION 2.  PILOT PROJECT.  A pilot project is established to
1-24     aid a target region having the highest percentage of authorized
1-25     caseworker positions unfilled and the highest caseworker turnover
 2-1     rate in meeting its needs for caseworkers.
 2-2           SECTION 3.  DEPARTMENT DUTIES.  For the duration of the pilot
 2-3     project, the department shall:
 2-4                 (1)  remove the limit on the number of authorized
 2-5     caseworker positions in a target region;
 2-6                 (2)  increase the number of trainee positions in a
 2-7     target training academy to a total that is 200 percent of the
 2-8     number of trainee positions immediately before the effective date
 2-9     of this Act;
2-10                 (3)  increase the number of trainers and other
2-11     necessary training academy positions in a target training academy
2-12     to a total necessary to accomplish the purposes of Subdivision (2)
2-13     of this section; and
2-14                 (4)  provide funds as necessary to accomplish the
2-15     purposes of Subdivisions (1), (2), and (3) of this section.
2-16           SECTION 4.  DURATION OF PILOT PROGRAM.  The department may
2-17     terminate the pilot project if the department determines that the
2-18     number of caseworkers serving the public in the target region
2-19     equals or exceeds the number of authorized caseworker positions as
2-20     that number existed immediately before the effective date of this
2-21     Act.
2-22           SECTION 5.  REPORT.  The department shall submit a report to
2-23     the legislature regarding the impact of the pilot project on the
2-24     retention of caseworkers.
2-25           SECTION 6.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect
2-26     September 1, 2001.