BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                     H.B. 3137

81R25107 UM-D                                                                                              By: Gallego (Nelson)

                                                                                                                  Health & Human Services

                                                                                                                                            5/12/2009

                                                                                                                                           Engrossed

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Foster parents throughout the state have experienced difficulties when applying for and having a child placed with them.

 

H.B. 3137 requires the Department of Family and Protective Services to develop and provide certain foster parents with a statement regarding the rights and responsibilities of those persons and the agency.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 42, Human Resources Code, by adding Section 42.0452, as follows:

 

Sec. 42.0452.  FOSTER PARENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES STATEMENT.  (a) Requires the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to develop a statement that lists the rights and responsibilities of a foster parent in a foster home or an agency foster home and of DFPS or a child-placing agency, as applicable.

 

(b) Requires DFPS to provide a written copy of the statement developed under Subsection (a) to each foster parent in a foster home and to each child-placing agency licensed by DFPS.  Requires a child-placing agency to provide a written copy of the statement developed under Subsection (a) to each foster parent in an agency foster home verified by the child-placing agency.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.