79R1421 KLA-D

By:  Dukes                                                        H.B. No. 171



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to caseload assignments for certain employees of the 
Department of Family and Protective Services.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.   Subchapter B, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code, 
is amended by adding Section 40.0323 to read as follows:
	Sec. 40.0323.  CASELOAD LIMITATION FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYEES.  
(a)  In this section, "investigative caseworker" means a caseworker 
of the child protective services division who spends more than 80 
percent of the caseworker's time investigating cases of child 
abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
	(b)  Notwithstanding Section 531.048(d), Government Code, 
the department shall ensure that the average caseload for 
investigative caseworkers does not exceed 18 cases at any time.
	(b-1)  Notwithstanding Section 531.048(d), Government Code, 
and Subsection (b), for the fiscal year beginning September 1, 
2005, the department shall ensure that the average caseload for 
investigative caseworkers does not exceed 23 cases at any time.  
This subsection expires September 1, 2006.
	(c)  In determining the average number of cases for 
investigative caseworkers for purposes of this section, the 
department may not consider cases that are more than 60 days old.
	SECTION 2.   This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.