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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a supply of luggage by the |
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Department of Family and Protective Services for the transport of |
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the personal belongings of a foster child. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 264.1078 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 264.1078. LUGGAGE FOR FOSTER CHILDREN. (a) In this |
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section, "luggage" means a suitcase, duffel bag, backpack, or |
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similar container designed to hold an individual's personal |
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belongings. |
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(b) The department shall: |
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(1) establish and maintain a decentralized supply of |
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luggage to be used to transport a foster child's personal |
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belongings; and |
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(2) develop procedures for the storage and |
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distribution of luggage to ensure the maximum number of children |
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are able to use the luggage. |
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(c) The department shall provide luggage to a child who is |
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being removed from the child's home or changing placement. |
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(d) The department shall maintain a record of each time a |
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trash bag is used to move a foster child's personal belongings. The |
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record must include the reason the department did not provide the |
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child with appropriate luggage to move the child's personal |
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belongings. |
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(e) The department shall submit an annual report to the |
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legislature that includes a summary of: |
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(1) the number of times a trash bag was used to |
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transport a foster child's personal belongings and the reasons the |
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department failed to provide the child with appropriate luggage; |
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and |
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(2) the department's supply inventory and inventory |
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management practices for the luggage supply maintained under |
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Subsection (b). |
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(f) The department may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and |
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donations of any kind and from any source for purposes of this |
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section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |