BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 3008
80R14240 KSD-D By: Pierson et al. (Nelson)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, the children in foster care receive help with making their transition into adulthood by participating in the Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) Program. Often, foster children who are making the transition into adulthood experience difficulties and need extra support.
H.B. 3008 requires the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to establish a pilot program under which DFPS contracts with a private or nonprofit entity to pair children in foster care in Tarrant County, Denton County, Dallas County, and Collin County who are 14 years of age or older with volunteer adult mentors in order to foster relationships of support and guidance in preparation for the children's transition to adult living.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to any state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, by adding Section 264.1165, as follows:
Sec. 264.1165. MENTORSHIP PILOT PROGRAM. (a) Requires the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to establish a pilot program under which DFPS contracts with a private or nonprofit entity, to pair children in foster care in Tarrant County, Denton County, Dallas County, and Collin County who are 14 years of age or older with volunteer adult mentors in order to foster relationships of support and guidance in preparation for the children's transition to adult living.
(b) Requires the private or nonprofit entity selected by DFPS to administer the program to have a demonstrated record of successfully providing services similar to those provided under the program.
(c) Authorizes the children in foster care who qualify for participation in the program to participate on a voluntary basis.
(d) Provides that an individual who volunteers as a mentor under the program is subject to state and national criminal background checks in accordance with Sections 411.087 (Access to Criminal History Record Information Maintained By Federal Bureau of Investigation or Local Criminal Justice Agency) and 411.114 (Access to Criminal History Record Information: Department of Protective and Regulatory Services), Government Code.
(e) Requires DFPS to encourage substitute care providers to facilitate participation in the program by a child who chooses to voluntarily participate in the program.
(f) Authorizes the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission to adopt rules for the administration of this section.
(g) Requires DFPS to report to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the members of the legislature not later than January 1, 2011, on the activities conducted under the pilot program. Requires the report to include DFPS's recommendations on improvements to the program and whether the program should be continues on a statewide basis.
(h) Requires DFPS to contract with a public institution of higher education located in the geographic area served by the pilot program for the institution to conduct an evaluation of the effectiveness of the program. Requires the institution selected to conduct an evaluation under this subsection to report its findings, not later than January 1, 2011, to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the members of the legislature. Requires the report to include the institution's assessment of the effectiveness of the program and recommendations on improvements to the program and whether the program should be continued on a statewide basis.
(i) Provides that this section expires September 1, 2011.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.