Honorable Harold V. Dutton, Jr., Chair, House Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB830 by Kolkhorst (Relating to the creation of an independent ombudsman for children and youth in foster care.), As Engrossed
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Government Code to require the executive commissioner to appoint an ombudsman for children and youth in foster care to serve at the will of the executive commissioner. The bill would require that the executive commissioner assign one full-time equivalent employee of the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) as ombudsman. The ombudsman would be administratively attached to the office of the ombudsman for the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). The bill would require the ombudsman to develop and implement statewide procedures in order to receive complaints from children and youth in the conservatorship of DFPS, review complaints filed, take actions regarding the complaints, and issue a final report on the results of each investigation. The office would be required to develop and implement an annual outreach plan. The bill would also require the ombudsman to submit an annual report to the executive commissioner and to the commissioner of DFPS.
HHSC and DFPS do not anticipate any significant fiscal impacts as a result of complying with the provisions of the bill.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
529 Health and Human Services Commission, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of