Honorable James B. Frank, Chair, House Committee on Human Services
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2764 by Frank (Relating to minimum standards and caregiver training for substitute care providers for children in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Human Resources Code to require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) no later than December 31, 2020, to create and implement a process to simplify and provide greater flexibility in application of the minimum standards for child placing agencies, agency foster homes and adoptive homes.
The bill would also require the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to grant each child placing agency and the Single Source Continuum Contractor (SSCC) the ability to waive certain standard related to training not related to caring for the child.
The bill would require DFPS and the SSCC to include a provision in contracts with child-placing agencies to adopt a policy that training for potential caregivers may not exceed 35 hours and require additional provisions in contracts related to training and allow the child placing agency to provide training to meet the requirements of the Federal Family First Prevention Services Act.
Although the bill requires DFPS to waive training requirements, it is assumed that HHSC will continue to provide these services and implement the provisions of the bill. Based on the LBB's analysis of HHSC's duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2019.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
529 Health and Human Services Commission, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of