By:  Van de Putte                                                 S.B. No. 984

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a feasibility study regarding the provision of financial incentives to individuals who undergo training for child protective services. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. (a) In this section: (1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services Commission. (2) "Health and human services agencies" has the meaning assigned by Section 531.001, Government Code. (3) "Training for child protective services" means training administered by a state agency or an institution of higher education that is provided to individuals working or interested in working in the field of child protective services and that is intended to assist the individuals in performing that work more effectively or efficiently. (b) The commission shall study the feasibility of providing a financial incentive to individuals to assist the individuals in receiving training for child protective services. (c) The study must: (1) consider the feasibility of creating a private foundation to solicit and receive money that will be used to assist those individuals; (2) consider possible means of providing a financial incentive, including educational or living stipends or reimbursement of tuition costs, to assist those individuals and determine the most effective means to deliver the incentives; (3) suggest criteria that those individuals must meet to receive the financial incentives; (4) estimate the initial cost and annual cost to this state of providing the financial incentives to those individuals; and (5) estimate the savings and costs associated with improved training of those individuals that may result from providing the financial incentives. (d) In conducting the study under Subsection (b) of this section, the commission may cooperate as necessary with any appropriate state agency. (e) Not later than September 1, 2006, the commission shall report the results of the study to the standing committees of the senate and house of representatives with primary jurisdiction over health and human services programs or appropriations. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.