C.S.H.B. 2058 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


C.S.H.B. 2058
By: Villarreal
Human Services
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

In 2000, the state did not achieve substantial conformity with six of the
seven national standards for safety, permanency, and well-being outcomes
for children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse and/or
neglect.  The state did not meet the national standards for measures
relating to the length of time to achieve adoption and to children's
placement stability while in foster care. The most significant concern
with regard to outcomes is the state's inconsistency in achieving
permanency for children in foster care. In only 72 percent of the cases
reviewed, children have permanency and stability in their living
situations. Key areas were identified as needing improvement: 
  
_the stability of foster care placements;
_the appropriateness of the permanency goal for children;
_attainment of permanency through reunification, guardianship, or
permanent placement with relatives; and  
_attainment of permanency through adoption.

The state also did not achieve substantial conformity with Safety Outcome
1 (Children are, first and foremost, protected from abuse and neglect) or
Safety Outcome 2 (Children are safely maintained in their homes whenever
possible and appropriate). During a case review by the Administration for
Children and Families, key areas assessed were identified as needing
improvement, including the provision of services to families to protect
children in home and prevent removal and managing the risk of harm to
children.   

House Bill 2058 would determine the extent to which persons with whom the
department contracts are achieving the goals and outcomes included in the
contract and the federally mandated and statemandated objectives of the
program to ensure the department is meeting federal guidelines, as well as
providing quality services to the children in state custody. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority
to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2058 requires the state to conduct a study of a random sample
of five percent of the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services (department) state office contracts under Chapter 40, Human
Resources Code, through which program services are provided.  The bill
requires the department to determine the extent to which each contractor
that provides program services for children is achieving: 
 _the goals and outcomes included in the person's contract; and
 _federally mandated and state-mandated objectives of the program.
 
The bill requires the department to report the results of the study to the
governor, the legislature, the Legislative Budget Board, the Sunset
Advisory Commission and the State Auditor's Office by December 31, 2004. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

CSHB 2058 differs from the original by requiring the Texas Department of
Protective and Regulatory Services (department) to conduct a study of a
random sample of five percent of the department's state office contracts,
and the original required the department to conduct a study to determine
the extent to which each person with whom the department contracted with
to provide program services for children.