By: Uresti S.B. No. 1758

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of a task force to examine hiring and management practices of the Department of Family and Protective Services.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapter X to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER X. TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES

HIRING AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

Sec. 531.971. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services Commission.

(2) "Department" means the Department of Family and Protective Services.

(3) "Division" means the child protective services division of the Department of Family and Protective Services.

(4) "Task force" means the Task Force to Examine Hiring and Management Practices to Improve Hiring and Retention of Child Protective Services Caseworkers and Improve Child Welfare.

Sec. 531.972. ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE; COMPOSITION. (a) The task force is established to examine hiring and management practices, to develop policy recommendations, if needed, and to design a comprehensive performance-based compensation and recognition system with the goal of increasing retention and reducing turnover of division caseworkers.

(b) The task force is composed of:

(1) the following members appointed jointly by the chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and the chair of the House Human Services Committee:

(A) one member from the department administration;

(B) one former division caseworker;

(C) three members from the department, each of whom is at a different stage of service in the division as follows:

(i) one current division caseworker;

(ii) one current division supervisor; and

(iii) one current division program director;

(D) two chief executive officers of corporations that use performance-based compensation in their organization;

(E) one consultant for a nonprofit organization that specializes in human resources and recruitment and retention initiatives;

(F) two human resources directors for for-profit entities who are familiar with performance-based compensation and the recruitment and retention of employees; and

(G) one member from a statewide advocacy organization that advocates in the field of child protective services;

(2) one member from the human resources department of the commission appointed by the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission; and

(3) any other person the chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and the chair of the House Human Services Committee jointly determine to be appropriate.

Sec. 531.973. VACANCY. A vacancy on the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

Sec. 531.974. PRESIDING OFFICER. The member appointed by the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall serve as the presiding officer of the task force.

Sec. 531.975. MEETINGS. The task force shall meet at the call of the presiding officer.

Sec. 531.976. COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT. Members of the task force are not entitled to compensation or reimbursement for expenses.

Sec. 531.977. DUTIES. (a) The task force shall:

(1) receive reports and testimony from individuals, state and local agencies, community-based organizations, and other public and private organizations;

(2) examine hiring and management practices that reduce turnover and improve outcomes for children, including performance-based compensation and recognition, increasing the percentage of hiring specialists with prior division experience, improving caseworker screening processes, improving caseworker assignments to best fit employee skills, involving unit supervisors in the hiring and academy training processes, implementing a statewide mentorship program, and developing caseworker unit assignment process to particular geographic regions; and

(3) develop any necessary policy recommendations.

(b) The task force shall prepare a report that includes:

(1) a description of the activities of the task force;

(2) the findings and recommendations of the task force, including any proposed policy recommendations; and

(3) any proposals for legislation or other matters the task force considers appropriate.

(c) Not later than September 1, 2014, the task force shall submit the report required by Subsection (b) to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the appropriate committees of the senate and the house of representatives.

Sec. 531.978. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. The commission shall provide reasonably necessary administrative and technical support for task force activities.

Sec. 531.979. RULEMAKING ASSISTANCE. The department shall seek the assistance of the task force if the department proposes to adopt or amend a rule as the result of a recommendation of the task force.

Sec. 531.980. APPLICABILITY OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE LAW. Chapter 2110 does not apply to the task force.

Sec. 531.981. EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and this subchapter expires September 1, 2015.

SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the appropriate persons shall appoint the members of the task force created by Subchapter X, Chapter 531, Government Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013.