81R11325 MCK-D

By: Rose H.B. No. 4159

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to Department of Family and Protective Services caseworkers and other employees.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 531.048, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsection (d-1) to read as follows:

(d-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (d), the Department of Family and Protective Services shall increase the number of department caseworkers so that:

(1) the average caseload for child protective services caseworkers, adult protective services caseworkers, and specialists in the child-care licensing division are equal to 80 percent of the average caseload that existed on January 1, 2009, for those employees; and

(2) each child in the department's conservatorship is able to be visited by the child's caseworker at least once each month.

SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Section 40.0327 to read as follows:

Sec. 40.0327. CASEWORKER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION STUDY. The department shall perform a study to determine ways to improve the recruitment and retention of caseworkers. The study must examine the factors that lead to caseworker turnover, including salary, job stress, and training.

SECTION 3. The Department of Family and Protective Services shall increase and maintain the salary, including any supplemental pay, for case management and investigative caseworkers and supervisors and shall extend the equivalent supplemental pay to:

(1) each program director and program administrator in an investigation unit in the child protective services division; and

(2) each caseworker, supervisor, program director, and program administrator in the child protective services division providing services through conservatorship programs, foster care and adoption programs, and family-based safety services programs.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.