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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to emergency placements of children by 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. Subchapter C, Chapter 42, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 42.0533 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 42.0533. EMERGENCY PLACEMENT. (a) In this section, |
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"emergency placement" means the temporary placement of a child in a |
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foster home, foster group home, agency foster home, or agency |
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foster group home for less than 72 hours. |
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(b) The department and each child-placing agency with whom |
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children in the managing conservatorship of the department are |
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placed shall identify and compile a list of all licensed foster |
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homes and foster group homes or verified agency foster homes and |
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agency foster group homes that are able to accept the emergency |
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placement of a child when a safe and suitable long-term placement is |
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not available. |
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(c) The department shall collaborate with child-placing |
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agencies to: |
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(1) develop procedures for the emergency placement of |
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children; and |
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(2) increase the number of foster homes, foster group |
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homes, agency foster homes, and agency foster group homes that are |
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able to accept the emergency placement of children. |
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(d) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules governing |
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the reimbursement of a foster home, a foster group home, an agency |
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foster home, or an agency foster group home that accepts the |
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emergency placement of a child. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |