H.B. 2433 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 2433
By: Hartnett
Human Services
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Prior to September 1, 2001, the turnover rate for Child Protective
Services (CPS) in Dallas and Tarrant Counties was 43 and 25 percent
respectively.  Since trainees counted toward the full-time employee cap,
the caps on full-time employees prevented the training academy from
enrolling enough trainees to fill vacant positions even though the
trainees could not actively work on cases. 

To address the shortage of CPS workers, Senate Bill 962 from the 77th
legislative session created a pilot program in Dallas and Tarrant counties
to temporarily increase the enrollment of CPS trainees to twice the then
current limit.  Although the program was successful, it is scheduled to be
terminated August 31, 2003. 

House Bill 2433 requires the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services to renew the program in Dallas and Tarrant counties, subject to
available funding.  It also requires the department to submit a report to
the legislature in December of 2004 regarding the effectiveness of the
pilot program. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2433 provides definitions for a caseworker, department, target
region, and target training academy. The bill directs the Department of
Regulatory and Services (department) to implement a pilot project in the
target region, subject to available funding, and provides the department
with certain duties for implementation of the project, including an
expiration date for the program. The bill requires the department to
submit a report to the legislature not later than December 31, 2004,
regarding the impact of the pilot program on the retention of caseworkers,
an assessment of the continuing need for the pilot program along with a
recommendation regarding whether the program should be continued, and
requires the legislature  to consider the report when considering
additional legislation to address the need for certain regions of the
state for CPS caseworkers.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.