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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to policies and procedures of the Department of Family and |
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Protective Services, including regarding service plans and |
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post-removal assessments. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 263, Family Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 263.1021 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 263.1021. SELECTION OF SERVICE PROVIDER. (a) A parent |
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who is required to complete a service plan under this subchapter may |
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obtain services from any qualified or licensed provider selected by |
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the parent. |
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(b) Services obtained from a provider selected under |
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Subsection (a) must be designed to achieve the stated goals of the |
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service plan. |
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(c) A service provider selected by a parent shall certify in |
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writing whether the parent has satisfactorily completed the |
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required service. |
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(d) If the department does not accept the certification from |
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a service provider under Subsection (c), not later than the 48th |
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hour after the department issues the denial, the department shall |
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notify the parent's state representative, the parent's state |
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senator, and the department's office of internal affairs about the |
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department's denial of the certification and the reason for the |
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denial. |
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SECTION 2. Section 264.1076, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows: |
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(b-1) In addition to the medical examination required by |
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Subsection (b), the department shall ensure that not later than the |
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end of the 15th day after the date a child described by Subsection |
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(a) is removed from the child's home, the child receives: |
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(1) a child and adolescent needs and strengths |
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assessment; and |
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(2) a medical checkup conducted in accordance with the |
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Texas Health Steps program. |
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SECTION 3. Section 264.1076(b-1), Family Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies only to a child who enters the conservatorship of |
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the Department of Family and Protective Services on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. A child who enters the conservatorship |
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of the Department of Family and Protective Services before the |
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effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the |
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date the child entered the conservatorship of the department, and |
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the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a suit filed by the Department of Family and Protective Services on |
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or after the effective date of this Act. A suit filed by the |
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department before that date is governed by the law in effect on the |
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date the suit was filed, and the former law is continued in effect |
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for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |