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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the management of child protective services |
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caseworkers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 531.048, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d-1) to read as follows: |
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(d-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (d), the Department of |
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Family and Protective Services shall ensure that the average |
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caseload for the following categories of department caseworkers |
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does not exceed the number specified by this subsection: |
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(1) for case management caseworkers and investigative |
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caseworkers in the child protective services division providing |
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services through conservatorship programs, an average of 24 cases |
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at any time; and |
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(2) for case management caseworkers in the child |
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protective services division providing services through foster and |
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adoption programs and family-based safety services programs, an |
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average equal to 80 percent of the average caseload that existed on |
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January 1, 2007, for those caseworkers. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 40.0325 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 40.0325. DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FOR CASEWORKERS. (a) |
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The department may not employ a person as a caseworker unless the |
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person holds a bachelor's degree or advanced degree in at least one |
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of the following academic areas: |
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(1) social work; |
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(2) counseling; |
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(3) early childhood education; |
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(4) psychology; |
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(5) criminal justice; or |
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(6) elementary or secondary education. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the department may |
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employ a person as a caseworker who does not hold a degree required |
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by Subsection (a) if the person has other exceptional education or |
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experience that the department determines qualifies the person to |
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perform the functions of a caseworker. |
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SECTION 3. Section 40.0325, Human Resources Code, as added |
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by this Act, applies only to a caseworker hired by the Department of |
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Family and Protective Services on or after the effective date of |
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this Act. A caseworker hired before the effective date of this Act |
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is not required to possess the degree required by Section 40.0325, |
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Human Resources Code, as added by this Act, as long as the person |
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remains employed by the Department of Family and Protective |
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Services as a caseworker. |
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SECTION 4. The Department of Family and Protective Services |
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shall increase and maintain the salary for case management and |
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investigative caseworkers and supervisors in the child protective |
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services division providing services through conservatorship |
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programs, foster and adoption programs, and family-based safety |
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services programs so that the salary for each employee exceeds 200 |
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percent of the federal poverty level. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |