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.