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AN ACT
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relating to investigations of child abuse, neglect, or exploitation |
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and to child protective services functions of the Department of |
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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. Section 71.004, Family Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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Sec. 71.004. FAMILY VIOLENCE. "Family violence" means: |
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(1) an act by a member of a family or household against |
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another member of the family or household that is intended to result |
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in physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault or that |
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is a threat that reasonably places the member in fear of imminent |
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physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault, but does |
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not include defensive measures to protect oneself; |
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(2) abuse, as that term is defined by Sections |
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261.001(1)(C), (E), (G), (H), (I), (J), [and] (K), and (M), by a |
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member of a family or household toward a child of the family or |
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household; or |
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(3) dating violence, as that term is defined by |
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Section 71.0021. |
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SECTION 2. Section 261.001, Family Code, is amended by |
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amending Subdivisions (1), (4), and (5) and adding Subdivision (3) |
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to read as follows: |
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(1) "Abuse" includes the following acts or omissions |
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by a person: |
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(A) mental or emotional injury to a child that |
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results in an observable and material impairment in the child's |
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growth, development, or psychological functioning; |
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(B) causing or permitting the child to be in a |
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situation in which the child sustains a mental or emotional injury |
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that results in an observable and material impairment in the |
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child's growth, development, or psychological functioning; |
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(C) physical injury that results in substantial |
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harm to the child, or the genuine threat of substantial harm from |
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physical injury to the child, including an injury that is at |
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variance with the history or explanation given and excluding an |
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accident or reasonable discipline by a parent, guardian, or |
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managing or possessory conservator that does not expose the child |
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to a substantial risk of harm; |
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(D) failure to make a reasonable effort to |
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prevent an action by another person that results in physical injury |
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that results in substantial harm to the child; |
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(E) sexual conduct harmful to a child's mental, |
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emotional, or physical welfare, including conduct that constitutes |
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the offense of continuous sexual abuse of young child or children |
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under Section 21.02, Penal Code, indecency with a child under |
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Section 21.11, Penal Code, sexual assault under Section 22.011, |
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Penal Code, or aggravated sexual assault under Section 22.021, |
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Penal Code; |
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(F) failure to make a reasonable effort to |
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prevent sexual conduct harmful to a child; |
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(G) compelling or encouraging the child to engage |
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in sexual conduct as defined by Section 43.01, Penal Code, |
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including compelling or encouraging the child in a manner that |
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constitutes an offense of trafficking of persons under Section |
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20A.02(a)(7) or (8), Penal Code, prostitution under Section |
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43.02(b), Penal Code, or compelling prostitution under Section |
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43.05(a)(2), Penal Code; |
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(H) causing, permitting, encouraging, engaging |
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in, or allowing the photographing, filming, or depicting of the |
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child if the person knew or should have known that the resulting |
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photograph, film, or depiction of the child is obscene as defined by |
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Section 43.21, Penal Code, or pornographic; |
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(I) the current use by a person of a controlled |
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substance as defined by Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, in a |
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manner or to the extent that the use results in physical, mental, or |
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emotional injury to a child; |
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(J) causing, expressly permitting, or |
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encouraging a child to use a controlled substance as defined by |
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Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code; |
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(K) causing, permitting, encouraging, engaging |
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in, or allowing a sexual performance by a child as defined by |
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Section 43.25, Penal Code; [or] |
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(L) knowingly causing, permitting, encouraging, |
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engaging in, or allowing a child to be trafficked in a manner |
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punishable as an offense under Section 20A.02(a)(5), (6), (7), or |
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(8), Penal Code, or the failure to make a reasonable effort to |
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prevent a child from being trafficked in a manner punishable as an |
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offense under any of those sections; or |
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(M) forcing or coercing a child to enter into a |
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marriage. |
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(3) "Exploitation" means the illegal or improper use |
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of a child or of the resources of a child for monetary or personal |
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benefit, profit, or gain by an employee, volunteer, or other |
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individual working under the auspices of a facility or program as |
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further described by rule or policy. |
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(4) "Neglect": |
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(A) includes: |
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(i) the leaving of a child in a situation |
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where the child would be exposed to a substantial risk of physical |
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or mental harm, without arranging for necessary care for the child, |
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and the demonstration of an intent not to return by a parent, |
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guardian, or managing or possessory conservator of the child; |
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(ii) the following acts or omissions by a |
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person: |
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(a) placing a child in or failing to |
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remove a child from a situation that a reasonable person would |
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realize requires judgment or actions beyond the child's level of |
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maturity, physical condition, or mental abilities and that results |
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in bodily injury or a substantial risk of immediate harm to the |
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child; |
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(b) failing to seek, obtain, or follow |
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through with medical care for a child, with the failure resulting in |
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or presenting a substantial risk of death, disfigurement, or bodily |
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injury or with the failure resulting in an observable and material |
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impairment to the growth, development, or functioning of the child; |
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(c) the failure to provide a child |
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with food, clothing, or shelter necessary to sustain the life or |
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health of the child, excluding failure caused primarily by |
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financial inability unless relief services had been offered and |
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refused; |
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(d) placing a child in or failing to |
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remove the child from a situation in which the child would be |
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exposed to a substantial risk of sexual conduct harmful to the |
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child; or |
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(e) placing a child in or failing to |
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remove the child from a situation in which the child would be |
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exposed to acts or omissions that constitute abuse under |
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Subdivision (1)(E), (F), (G), (H), or (K) committed against another |
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child; [or] |
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(iii) the failure by the person responsible |
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for a child's care, custody, or welfare to permit the child to |
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return to the child's home without arranging for the necessary care |
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for the child after the child has been absent from the home for any |
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reason, including having been in residential placement or having |
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run away; or |
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(iv) a negligent act or omission by an |
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employee, volunteer, or other individual working under the auspices |
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of a facility or program, including failure to comply with an |
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individual treatment plan, plan of care, or individualized service |
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plan, that causes or may cause substantial emotional harm or |
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physical injury to, or the death of, a child served by the facility |
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or program as further described by rule or policy; and |
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(B) does not include the refusal by a person |
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responsible for a child's care, custody, or welfare to permit the |
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child to remain in or return to the child's home resulting in the |
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placement of the child in the conservatorship of the department if: |
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(i) the child has a severe emotional |
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disturbance; |
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(ii) the person's refusal is based solely on |
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the person's inability to obtain mental health services necessary |
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to protect the safety and well-being of the child; and |
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(iii) the person has exhausted all |
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reasonable means available to the person to obtain the mental |
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health services described by Subparagraph (ii). |
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(5) "Person responsible for a child's care, custody, |
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or welfare" means a person who traditionally is responsible for a |
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child's care, custody, or welfare, including: |
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(A) a parent, guardian, managing or possessory |
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conservator, or foster parent of the child; |
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(B) a member of the child's family or household |
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as defined by Chapter 71; |
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(C) a person with whom the child's parent |
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cohabits; |
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(D) school personnel or a volunteer at the |
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child's school; [or] |
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(E) personnel or a volunteer at a public or |
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private child-care facility that provides services for the child or |
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at a public or private residential institution or facility where |
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the child resides; or |
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(F) an employee, volunteer, or other person |
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working under the supervision of a licensed or unlicensed |
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child-care facility, including a family home, residential |
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child-care facility, employer-based day-care facility, or shelter |
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day-care facility, as those terms are defined in Chapter 42, Human |
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Resources Code. |
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SECTION 3. Section 261.101(b), Family Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) If a professional has cause to believe that a child has |
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been abused or neglected or may be abused or neglected, or that a |
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child is a victim of an offense under Section 21.11, Penal Code, and |
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the professional has cause to believe that the child has been abused |
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as defined by Section 261.001 [or 261.401], the professional shall |
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make a report not later than the 48th hour after the hour the |
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professional first suspects that the child has been or may be abused |
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or neglected or is a victim of an offense under Section 21.11, Penal |
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Code. A professional may not delegate to or rely on another person |
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to make the report. In this subsection, "professional" means an |
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individual who is licensed or certified by the state or who is an |
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employee of a facility licensed, certified, or operated by the |
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state and who, in the normal course of official duties or duties for |
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which a license or certification is required, has direct contact |
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with children. The term includes teachers, nurses, doctors, |
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day-care employees, employees of a clinic or health care facility |
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that provides reproductive services, juvenile probation officers, |
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and juvenile detention or correctional officers. |
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SECTION 4. Sections 261.301(b) and (c), Family Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) A state agency shall investigate a report that alleges |
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abuse, [or] neglect, or exploitation occurred in a facility |
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operated, licensed, certified, or registered by that agency as |
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provided by Subchapter E. In conducting an investigation for a |
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facility operated, licensed, certified, registered, or listed by |
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the department, the department shall perform the investigation as |
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provided by: |
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(1) Subchapter E; and |
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(2) the Human Resources Code. |
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(c) The department is not required to investigate a report |
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that alleges child abuse, [or] neglect, or exploitation by a person |
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other than a person responsible for a child's care, custody, or |
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welfare. The appropriate state or local law enforcement agency |
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shall investigate that report if the agency determines an |
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investigation should be conducted. |
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SECTION 5. Section 261.401(b), Family Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) Except as provided by Section 261.404 and Section |
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531.02013(1)(D), Government Code, a state agency that operates, |
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licenses, certifies, registers, or lists a facility in which |
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children are located or provides oversight of a program that serves |
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children shall make a prompt, thorough investigation of a report |
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that a child has been or may be abused, neglected, or exploited in |
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the facility or program. The primary purpose of the investigation |
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shall be the protection of the child. |
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SECTION 6. Sections 261.405(a) and (c), Family Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Notwithstanding Section 261.001, in [In] this section: |
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(1) "Abuse" means an intentional, knowing, or reckless |
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act or omission by an employee, volunteer, or other individual |
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working under the auspices of a facility or program that causes or |
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may cause emotional harm or physical injury to, or the death of, a |
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child served by the facility or program as further described by rule |
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or policy. |
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(2) "Exploitation" means the illegal or improper use |
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of a child or of the resources of a child for monetary or personal |
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benefit, profit, or gain by an employee, volunteer, or other |
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individual working under the auspices of a facility or program as |
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further described by rule or policy. |
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(3) "Juvenile justice facility" means a facility |
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operated wholly or partly by the juvenile board, by another |
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governmental unit, or by a private vendor under a contract with the |
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juvenile board, county, or other governmental unit that serves |
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juveniles under juvenile court jurisdiction. The term includes: |
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(A) a public or private juvenile |
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pre-adjudication secure detention facility, including a holdover |
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facility; |
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(B) a public or private juvenile |
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post-adjudication secure correctional facility except for a |
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facility operated solely for children committed to the Texas |
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Juvenile Justice Department; and |
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(C) a public or private non-secure juvenile |
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post-adjudication residential treatment facility that is not |
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licensed by the Department of Family and Protective Services or the |
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Department of State Health Services. |
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(4) [(2)] "Juvenile justice program" means a program |
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or department operated wholly or partly by the juvenile board or by |
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a private vendor under a contract with a juvenile board that serves |
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juveniles under juvenile court jurisdiction. The term includes: |
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(A) a juvenile justice alternative education |
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program; |
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(B) a non-residential program that serves |
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juvenile offenders under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court; |
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and |
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(C) a juvenile probation department. |
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(5) "Neglect" means a negligent act or omission by an |
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employee, volunteer, or other individual working under the auspices |
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of a facility or program, including failure to comply with an |
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individual treatment plan, plan of care, or individualized service |
|
plan, that causes or may cause substantial emotional harm or |
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physical injury to, or the death of, a child served by the facility |
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or program as further described by rule or policy. |
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(c) The Texas Juvenile Justice Department shall make a |
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prompt, thorough [conduct an] investigation as provided by this |
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chapter if that department receives a report of alleged abuse, |
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neglect, or exploitation in any juvenile justice program or |
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facility. The primary purpose of the investigation shall be the |
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protection of the child. |
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SECTION 7. Section 531.02013, Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.02013. FUNCTIONS REMAINING WITH CERTAIN |
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AGENCIES. The following functions are not subject to transfer |
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under Sections 531.0201 and 531.02011: |
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(1) the functions of the Department of Family and |
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Protective Services, including the statewide intake of reports and |
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other information, related to the following: |
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(A) child protective services, including |
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services that are required by federal law to be provided by this |
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state's child welfare agency; |
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(B) adult protective services, other than |
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investigations of the alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an |
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elderly person or person with a disability: |
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(i) in a facility operated, or in a facility |
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or by a person licensed, certified, or registered, by a state |
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agency; or |
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(ii) by a provider that has contracted to |
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provide home and community-based services; [and] |
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(C) prevention and early intervention services; |
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and |
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(D) investigations of alleged abuse, neglect, or |
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exploitation occurring at a child-care facility, as that term is |
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defined in Section 40.042, Human Resources Code; and |
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(2) the public health functions of the Department of |
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State Health Services, including health care data collection and |
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maintenance of the Texas Health Care Information Collection |
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program. |
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SECTION 8. (a) Subchapter B, Chapter 40, Human Resources |
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Code, is amended by adding Sections 40.039, 40.040, 40.041, and |
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40.042 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 40.039. REVIEW OF RECORDS RETENTION POLICY. The |
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department shall periodically review the department's records |
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retention policy with respect to case and intake records relating |
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to department functions. The department shall make changes to the |
|
policy consistent with the records retention schedule submitted |
|
under Section 441.185, Government Code, that are necessary to |
|
improve case prioritization and the routing of cases to the |
|
appropriate division of the department. The department may adopt |
|
rules necessary to implement this section. |
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Sec. 40.040. CASE MANAGEMENT VENDOR QUALITY OVERSIGHT AND |
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ASSURANCE DIVISION; MONITORING OF CONTRACT ADHERENCE. (a) In this |
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section, "case management," "catchment area," and "community-based |
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care" have the meanings assigned by Section 264.151, Family Code. |
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(b) The department shall create within the department the |
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case management services vendor quality oversight and assurance |
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division. The division shall: |
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(1) oversee quality and ensure accountability of any |
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vendor that provides community-based care and full case management |
|
services for the department under community-based care; and |
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(2) monitor the transfer from the department to a |
|
vendor of full case management services for children and families |
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receiving services from the vendor, including any transfer |
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occurring under a pilot program. |
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(c) The commission shall contract with an outside vendor |
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with expertise in quality assurance to develop, in coordination |
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with the department, a contract monitoring system and standards for |
|
the continuous monitoring of the adherence of a vendor providing |
|
foster care services under community-based care to the terms of the |
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contract entered into by the vendor and the commission. The |
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standards must include performance benchmarks relating to the |
|
provision of case management services in the catchment area where |
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the vendor operates. |
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(d) The division shall collect and analyze data comparing |
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outcomes on performance measures between catchment areas where |
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community-based care has been implemented and regions where |
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community-based care has not been implemented. |
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Sec. 40.041. OFFICE OF DATA ANALYTICS. The department |
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shall create an office of data analytics. The office shall report |
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to the deputy commissioner and may perform any of the following |
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functions, as determined by the department: |
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(1) monitor management trends; |
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(2) analyze employee exit surveys and interviews; |
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(3) evaluate the effectiveness of employee retention |
|
efforts, including merit pay; |
|
(4) create and manage a system for handling employee |
|
complaints submitted by the employee outside of an employee's |
|
direct chain of command, including anonymous complaints; |
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(5) monitor and provide reports to department |
|
management personnel on: |
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(A) employee complaint data and trends in |
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employee complaints; |
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(B) compliance with annual department |
|
performance evaluation requirements; and |
|
(C) the department's use of positive performance |
|
levels for employees; |
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(6) track employee tenure and internal employee |
|
transfers within both the child protective services division and |
|
the department; |
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(7) use data analytics to predict workforce shortages |
|
and identify areas of the department with high rates of employee |
|
turnover, and develop a process to inform the deputy commissioner |
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and other appropriate staff regarding the office's findings; |
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(8) create and monitor reports on key metrics of |
|
agency performance; |
|
(9) analyze available data, including data on employee |
|
training, for historical and predictive department trends; and |
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(10) conduct any other data analysis the department |
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determines to be appropriate for improving performance, meeting the |
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department's current business needs, or fulfilling the powers and |
|
duties of the department. |
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Sec. 40.042. INVESTIGATIONS OF CHILD ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND |
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EXPLOITATION. (a) In this section, "child-care facility" includes |
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a facility, licensed or unlicensed child-care facility, family |
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home, residential child-care facility, employer-based day-care |
|
facility, or shelter day-care facility, as those terms are defined |
|
in Chapter 42. |
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(b) For all investigations of child abuse, neglect, or |
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exploitation conducted by the child protective services division of |
|
the department, the department shall adopt the definitions of |
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abuse, neglect, and exploitation provided in Section 261.001, |
|
Family Code. |
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(c) The department shall establish standardized policies to |
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be used during investigations. |
|
(d) The commissioner shall establish units within the child |
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protective services division of the department to specialize in |
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investigating allegations of child abuse, neglect, or exploitation |
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occurring at a child-care facility. |
|
(e) The department may require that investigators who |
|
specialize in allegations of child abuse, neglect, and exploitation |
|
occurring at child-care facilities receive ongoing training on the |
|
minimum licensing standards for any facilities that are applicable |
|
to the investigator's specialization. |
|
(f) After an investigation of abuse, neglect, or |
|
exploitation occurring at a child-care facility, the department |
|
shall provide the state agency responsible for regulating the |
|
facility with access to any information relating to the |
|
department's investigation. Providing access to confidential |
|
information under this subsection does not constitute a waiver of |
|
confidentiality. |
|
(g) The executive commissioner or the commissioner of the |
|
department, as appropriate, may adopt rules to implement this |
|
section. |
|
(b) As soon as possible after the effective date of this |
|
Act, the commissioner of the Department of Family and Protective |
|
Services shall establish the office of data analytics required by |
|
Section 40.041, Human Resources Code, as added by this section. The |
|
commissioner and the executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
|
Services Commission shall transfer appropriate staff as necessary |
|
to conduct the duties of the office. |
|
SECTION 9. Section 40.051, Human Resources Code, is amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 40.051. STRATEGIC PLAN FOR DEPARTMENT. The department |
|
shall develop a departmental strategic plan based on the goals and |
|
priorities stated in the commission's coordinated strategic plan |
|
for health and human services. The department shall also develop |
|
its plan based on: |
|
(1) furthering the policy of family preservation; |
|
(2) the goal of ending the abuse and neglect of |
|
children in the conservatorship of the department; and |
|
(3) the goal of increasing the capacity and |
|
availability of foster, relative, and kinship placements in this |
|
state. |
|
SECTION 10. (a) Section 40.058(f), Human Resources Code, |
|
is amended to read as follows: |
|
(f) A contract for residential child-care services provided |
|
by a general residential operation or by a child-placing agency |
|
must include provisions that: |
|
(1) enable the department and commission to monitor |
|
the effectiveness of the services; |
|
(2) specify performance outcomes, financial penalties |
|
for failing to meet any specified performance outcomes, and |
|
financial incentives for exceeding any specified performance |
|
outcomes; |
|
(3) authorize the department or commission to |
|
terminate the contract or impose monetary sanctions for a violation |
|
of a provision of the contract that specifies performance criteria |
|
or for underperformance in meeting any specified performance |
|
outcomes; |
|
(4) authorize the department or commission, an agent |
|
of the department or commission, and the state auditor to inspect |
|
all books, records, and files maintained by a contractor relating |
|
to the contract; and |
|
(5) are necessary, as determined by the department or |
|
commission, to ensure accountability for the delivery of services |
|
and for the expenditure of public funds. |
|
(b) The Health and Human Services Commission shall, in a |
|
contract for residential child-care services between the |
|
commission and a general residential operation or child-placing |
|
agency that is entered into on or after the effective date of this |
|
section, including a renewal contract, include the provisions |
|
required by Section 40.058(f), Human Resources Code, as amended by |
|
this section. |
|
(c) The Health and Human Services Commission shall seek to |
|
amend contracts for residential child-care services entered into |
|
with general residential operations or child-placing agencies |
|
before the effective date of this section to include the provisions |
|
required by Section 40.058(f), Human Resources Code, as amended by |
|
this section. |
|
(d) The Department of Family and Protective Services and the |
|
Health and Human Services Commission may not impose a financial |
|
penalty against a general residential operation or child-placing |
|
agency under a contract provision described by Section 40.058(f)(2) |
|
or (3), Human Resources Code, as amended by this section, until |
|
September 1, 2018. |
|
SECTION 11. (a) Subchapter C, Chapter 40, Human Resources |
|
Code, is amended by adding Section 40.0581 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 40.0581. PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR CERTAIN SERVICE |
|
PROVIDER CONTRACTS. (a) The commission, in collaboration with the |
|
department, shall contract with a vendor or enter into an agreement |
|
with an institution of higher education to develop, in coordination |
|
with the department, performance quality metrics for family-based |
|
safety services and post-adoption support services providers. The |
|
quality metrics must be included in each contract with those |
|
providers. |
|
(b) Each provider whose contract with the commission to |
|
provide department services includes the quality metrics developed |
|
under Subsection (a) must prepare and submit to the department a |
|
report each calendar quarter regarding the provider's performance |
|
based on the quality metrics. |
|
(c) The commissioner shall compile a summary of all reports |
|
prepared and submitted to the department by family-based safety |
|
services providers as required by Subsection (b) and distribute the |
|
summary to appropriate family-based safety services caseworkers |
|
and child protective services region management once each calendar |
|
quarter. |
|
(d) The commissioner shall compile a summary of all reports |
|
prepared and submitted to the department by post-adoption support |
|
services providers as required by Subsection (b) and distribute the |
|
summary to appropriate conservatorship and adoption caseworkers |
|
and child protective services region management. |
|
(e) The department shall make the summaries prepared under |
|
Subsections (c) and (d) available to families that are receiving |
|
family-based safety services and to adoptive families. |
|
(f) This section does not apply to a provider that has |
|
entered into a contract with the commission to provide family-based |
|
safety services under Section 264.165, Family Code. |
|
(b) The quality metrics required by Section 40.0581, Human |
|
Resources Code, as added by this section, must be developed not |
|
later than September 1, 2018, and included in any contract, |
|
including a renewal contract, entered into by the Health and Human |
|
Services Commission with a family-based safety services provider or |
|
a post-adoption support services provider on or after January 1, |
|
2019, except as provided by Section 40.0581(f), Human Resources |
|
Code, as added by this section. |
|
SECTION 12. Section 42.002(23), Human Resources Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(23) "Other maltreatment" means: |
|
(A) abuse, as defined by Section 261.001 [or
|
|
261.401], Family Code; or |
|
(B) neglect, as defined by Section 261.001 [or
|
|
261.401], Family Code. |
|
SECTION 13. Section 42.044(c-1), Human Resources Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(c-1) The department: |
|
(1) shall investigate a listed family home if the |
|
department receives a complaint that: |
|
(A) a child in the home has been abused or |
|
neglected, as defined by Section 261.001 [261.401], Family Code; or |
|
(B) otherwise alleges an immediate risk of danger |
|
to the health or safety of a child being cared for in the home; and |
|
(2) may investigate a listed family home to ensure |
|
that the home is providing care for compensation to not more than |
|
three children, excluding children who are related to the |
|
caretaker. |
|
SECTION 14. Section 261.401(a), Family Code, is repealed. |
|
SECTION 15. (a) The changes in law made by this Act apply |
|
only to a report of suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a |
|
child that is made on or after the effective date of this Act. A |
|
report of suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation that is made |
|
before that date is governed by the law in effect on the date the |
|
report was made, and that law is continued in effect for that |
|
purpose. |
|
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of Subchapter A-1, |
|
Chapter 531, Government Code, or any other law, the responsibility |
|
for conducting investigations of reports of abuse, neglect, or |
|
exploitation occurring at a child-care facility, as that term is |
|
defined in Section 40.042, Human Resources Code, as added by this |
|
Act, may not be transferred to the Health and Human Services |
|
Commission and remains the responsibility of the Department of |
|
Family and Protective Services. |
|
(c) As soon as possible after the effective date of this |
|
Act, the commissioner of the Department of Family and Protective |
|
Services shall transfer the responsibility for conducting |
|
investigations of reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation |
|
occurring at a child-care facility, as that term is defined in |
|
Section 40.042, Human Resources Code, as added by this Act, to the |
|
child protective services division of the department. The |
|
commissioner shall transfer appropriate investigators and staff as |
|
necessary to implement this subsection. |
|
(d) The Department of Family and Protective Services shall |
|
implement the standardized definitions and policies required under |
|
Sections 40.042(b) and (c), Human Resources Code, as added by this |
|
Act, not later than December 1, 2017. |
|
SECTION 16. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
______________________________ |
|
President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
|
|
|
I certify that H.B. No. 249 was passed by the House on April |
|
28, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 136, Nays 0, 2 present, not |
|
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
|
No. 249 on May 26, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 0, 3 |
|
present, not voting. |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
|
|
I certify that H.B. No. 249 was passed by the Senate, with |
|
amendments, on May 24, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays |
|
0. |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
APPROVED: __________________ |
|
Date |
|
|
|
__________________ |
|
Governor |