1-1     By:  Moncrief, Shapiro                                 S.B. No. 962
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed February 27, 2001; February 28, 2001,
 1-3     read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human
 1-4     Services; March 29, 2001, reported adversely, with favorable
 1-5     Committee Substitute; March 29, 2001 recommitted to Committee on
 1-6     Health and Human Services; April 23, 2001, reported adversely, with
 1-7     favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 7, Nays
 1-8     0; April 23, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-9     COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 962                 By:  Moncrief
1-10                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-11                                   AN ACT
1-12     relating to a pilot project to address the need for more child
1-13     protective services workers in certain regions of the state.
1-14           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-15           SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS.  In this Act:
1-16                 (1)  "Caseworker" means a full-time employee who is a
1-17     child protective service specialist.
1-18                 (2)  "Department" means the Department of Protective
1-19     and Regulatory Services.
1-20                 (3)  "Pilot project" means the pilot project
1-21     established by this Act to fill the need for more caseworkers in a
1-22     target region.
1-23                 (4)  "Target region" means a department service region
1-24     of the state in which on the effective date of this Act:
1-25                       (A)  fewer than 80 percent of the authorized
1-26     caseworker positions are filled by caseworkers, excluding the
1-27     caseworkers enrolled in the training academy in the region; and
1-28                       (B)  the highest twelve-month caseworker turnover
1-29     rate exists.
1-30                 (5)  "Target training academy" means a training academy
1-31     that trains caseworkers for the department and that is located in a
1-32     target region.
1-33           SECTION 2.  PILOT PROJECT.  A pilot project is established to
1-34     aid a target region having the highest percentage of authorized
1-35     caseworker positions unfilled and the highest caseworker turnover
1-36     rate in meeting its needs for caseworkers.
1-37           SECTION 3.  DEPARTMENT DUTIES.  For the duration of the pilot
1-38     project, the department shall:
1-39                 (1)  remove the limit on the number of authorized
1-40     caseworker positions in a target region;
1-41                 (2)  increase the number of trainee positions in a
1-42     target training academy to a total that is 200 percent of the
1-43     number of trainee positions immediately before the effective date
1-44     of this Act;
1-45                 (3)  increase the number of trainers and other
1-46     necessary training academy positions in a target training academy
1-47     to a total necessary to accomplish the purposes of Subdivision (2)
1-48     of this section; and
1-49                 (4)  provide funds as necessary to accomplish the
1-50     purposes of Subdivisions (1), (2), and (3) of this section.
1-51           SECTION 4.  DURATION OF PILOT PROGRAM.  The department may
1-52     terminate the pilot project if the department determines that the
1-53     number of caseworkers serving the public in the target region
1-54     equals or exceeds the number of authorized caseworker positions as
1-55     that number existed immediately before the effective date of this
1-56     Act.
1-57           SECTION 5.  REPORT.  The department shall submit a report to
1-58     the legislature regarding the impact of the pilot project on the
1-59     retention of caseworkers.
1-60           SECTION 6.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect
1-61     September 1, 2001.
1-62                                  * * * * *