| TO: | Honorable David Dewhurst, Lieutenant Governor, Senate |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB723 by Lucio (Relating to requiring that the Department of Family and Protective Services maintain and report certain information in connection with the placement of children. ), As Passed 2nd House |
The bill would amend Chapter 265, Family Code, to require the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to keep a record of placements not made because a relative or other designated caregiver cannot afford to care for a child. It would also require the agency to compile statistics and submit an annual report to the Legislature. The bill would amend Article 5, Code of Criminal Procedure, to require peace officers to report family violence incidents or calls involving foster homes to DFPS. It would also amend Chapter 42, Human Resources Code, to (a) require DFPS to notify child placing agencies of such reports (b) maintain a database of foster homes and (c) make the database available to the Department of Public Safety (DPS). DFPS indicates that any costs associated with these provisions could be absorbed within current resources.
The bill would amend Chapter 42, Human Resources Code, to require DPS to include information provided by DFPS in the Texas Crime Information Center database. It would also require DPS to establish a procedure by which a peace officer or employee of a law enforcement agency who provides DPS with a street address is automatically provided information about whether the address is a foster home. DPS estimates there would be a minimal cost associated with implementing the provisions of the bill.
| Source Agencies: | 405 Department of Public Safety, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, CL, NM
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