BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 4351

By: Noble

Human Services

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) requires new hires to complete the entire comprehensive adult protective services training program before they can assist on current cases in the field. Currently, the training program is approximately four months long, which means new caseworker cannot be assigned cases or work in the field for months after coming onboard at DFPS. This denies new caseworkers practical, hands-on experience during the training period. C.S.H.B. 4351 seeks to allow trainees to practice the competencies taught in the training program in the field, under supervision, with actual clients.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 4351 amends the Human Resources Code to revise the requirement for a newly hired or assigned Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) employee to complete the new-employee adult protective services training program developed and implemented by DFPS before initiating an investigation of a report of alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an elderly person or person with a disability or providing protective services to such a person by specifying that the training program must be completed successfully. However, the bill establishes an exception to that requirement for a newly hired or assigned employee who is in the process of receiving the required training and initiates the investigation or provides protective services under the direct supervision of the person who is providing the training. The bill applies only to an employee who is enrolled in the training program on or after the bill's effective date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.

COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 4351 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

Whereas the introduced removed the requirement in current law for each newly hired or assigned DFPS employee to have completed the required new-employee adult protective services training program before initiating an applicable investigation or providing protective services, the substitute does not make this removal. Rather, the substitute retains that current requirement but establishes instead an exception to the requirement for a newly hired or assigned employee who is in the process of receiving the required training and initiates the investigation or provides protective services under the direct supervision of the person who is providing the training to the employee.