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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a best practices guide for persons involved in child |
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protective services cases. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 40.0529 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 40.0529. BEST PRACTICES GUIDE FOR CHILD PROTECTIVE |
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SERVICES CASES. (a) The department shall develop a best practices |
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guide to establish uniform practices in child protective services |
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cases across this state. The guide must: |
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(1) describe the different stages of a child |
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protective services case, including intake, initial investigation, |
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assessment of the child and family, case planning, court |
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proceedings, case management services, and case closure; |
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(2) describe the roles and responsibilities of the |
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persons involved in each stage identified in Subdivision (1); and |
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(3) include definitions of commonly used terms, model |
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timelines and procedural flowcharts for the most common child |
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protective services cases, and a list by area of services available |
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to children and parents. |
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(b) The department shall design the best practices guide to |
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assist: |
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(1) an attorney representing a child or parent in a |
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suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed by the |
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department; |
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(2) a judge presiding over a case described in |
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Subdivision (1); |
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(3) a guardian ad litem representing a child in a case |
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described by Subdivision (1); |
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(4) a child protective services caseworker or |
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investigator; and |
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(5) any other individual involved in a child |
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protective services case that the department determines would |
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benefit from the best practices guide. |
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(c) The department shall make the best practices guide |
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available on the department's Internet website. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |