BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 497
	By: Uresti
	Health & Human Services
	5/23/2017
	Enrolled

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Child Protective Services (CPS) continues to experience turmoil and a number of emergencies. CPS struggles to retain a high quality workforce, which has exacerbated these problems and led to troubling outcomes for children. The agency continues to have high rates of turnover even after its two-year reform effort. S.B. 497 elevates the current workforce development division into an Office of Data Analytics. The Office of Data Analytics (office) will, among other things, monitor management trends, review entrance and exit surveys, review retention initiatives, and handle employee complaints. The office will report directly to the deputy commissioner of the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).

Being outside of the programmatic umbrella would allow the office to look into all potential problems without workers fearing intervention or retaliation, making its assessments more honest and transparent. The office would also have a more holistic approach by consolidating the functions related to workforce support services, creating agency performance metrics, and data analytics.

S.B. 497 strives to improve Texas CPS's ability to maintain a high quality and stable workforce and thus its ability to protect Texas kids.

S.B. 497 amends current law relating to the creation of an office of data analytics in the Department of Family and Protective Services.

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 B, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code, by adding Section 40.041, as follows:

Sec. 40.041. OFFICE OF DATA ANALYTICS. Requires the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to create an Office of Data Analytics (office). Requires the office to report to the deputy commissioner of DFPS and authorizes the office, as determined by DFPS, to perform certain enumerated functions.

SECTION 2. Requires the DFPS commissioner, as soon as possible after the effective date of this Act, to establish the office. Requires the commissioner and the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission to transfer appropriate staff as necessary to conduct the duties of the office.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2017.