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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the availability on the Internet of certain information |
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regarding the child protective services functions of the Department |
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of Family and Protective Services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 40.03052 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 40.03052. PUBLIC ACCESS TO CERTAIN DEPARTMENT DATA. |
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(a) The commissioner shall make available to the public, |
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through the department's Internet website, certain statistical |
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information maintained by the department and of interest to the |
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public regarding the child protective services program |
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administered by the department. The department shall consult with |
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interested stakeholders in determining the data elements to be |
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published that shall include but not be limited to: |
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(1) the number and percentage of children who the |
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department is aware: |
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(i) are placed with relatives by a parent as |
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a result of: |
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(a) an investigation; or |
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(b) the parent's participation in |
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family-based safety services when: |
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(1) this placement is included |
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in the family's safety plan; |
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(2) the department does a |
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background check on the relative with whom the child is to be |
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placed; or |
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(3) the department seeks a court |
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order to require the parent to participate in family based safety |
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services. |
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(ii) are returned to foster care from a |
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relative placement due to the relative's financial hardship. |
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(b) The department shall modify current policies to ensure |
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that the data is collected in the least burdensome manner possible |
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that does not compromise the integrity and relevancy of the data. |
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(c) The system developed under this section must: |
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(1) provide information in a summarized format easily |
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understood by the public; |
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(2) allow users to search, sort, and download the |
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information. |
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(d) The information published on the department's Internet |
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website as provided by this section must: |
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(1) be updated at least quarterly; |
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(2) be organized appropriately based on subject matter |
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and easily accessible from a clearly identified location on the |
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Internet website; |
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(3) include data aggregated at both the statewide and |
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administrative region levels. |
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(e) The department shall make the information maintained |
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under this section available, other than information that is |
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required by law to be confidential. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009 for |
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department data included on the website as of that date. |