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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the recruitment and evaluation of foster care providers |
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and the placement of children with foster care providers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 264.107, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (b-2) to read as follows: |
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(b-2) The department shall, subject to the availability of |
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funds, use a web-based system to assist the department in making the |
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best placement decision for a child in foster care. The system must: |
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(1) integrate a level of care for the child; |
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(2) suggest placements based on the child's needs; |
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(3) display the proximity of potential providers to |
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the child's home and school; |
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(4) incorporate foster care provider preferences; |
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(5) provide access to the foster care provider's |
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history in providing safe and stable placements for children; and |
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(6) include any other provider information the |
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department determines to be relevant. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 264.1131 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 264.1131. FOSTER CARE PROVIDER RECRUITMENT PLAN. In |
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addition to foster parent recruitment from faith-based |
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organizations under Section 264.113, the department shall, subject |
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to the availability of funds, collaborate with current foster and |
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adoptive parents to develop and implement a foster care provider |
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recruitment plan. The plan must: |
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(1) identify geographic areas in the state where there |
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is a need for foster care providers using risk stratification |
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modeling or risk assessments of geographic areas with high |
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occurrences of child abuse and neglect or child fatalities; |
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(2) use data analysis, social media, partnerships with |
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faith-based and volunteer organizations, and other strategies for |
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recruitment, including targeted and child-focused recruitment; |
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(3) identify the number of available foster care |
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providers for children with high needs in order to expand the use of |
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therapeutic or treatment foster care for children in those |
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placements; |
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(4) require the provision of: |
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(A) quality customer service to prospective and |
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current foster and adoptive parents; and |
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(B) assistance to prospective foster parents |
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with the certification and placement process; |
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(5) include strategies for increasing the number of |
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kinship providers; |
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(6) include strategies to ensure that children in |
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foster care do not have to transfer schools after entering foster |
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care, unless transferring is in the child's best interest; and |
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(7) include programs to support foster and adoptive |
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families, including programs that provide training, respite care, |
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and peer assistance. |
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SECTION 3. Section 264.903, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) The department shall expedite the evaluation of a |
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potential caregiver under this section to ensure that the child is |
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placed with a caregiver who has the ability to protect the child |
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from the alleged perpetrator of abuse or neglect against the child. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |