BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3748

By: Manuel

Human Services

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill author has informed the committee that employees of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) often work in challenging environments, interacting with clients who may be in distress or experiencing crises and sometimes suffering the loss of or damage to personal property due to the actions of those clients. Further, current state law does not provide a formal mechanism for reimbursing DFPS employees for such loss or damage, which can place a financial burden on employees who are already navigating difficult job conditions. H.B. 3748 seeks to address this issue and provide a structured approach for compensating employees affected by these incidents by allowing DFPS, through the use of existing resources, to reimburse current or former DFPS employees for personal property that is lost or damaged due to a client's actions in the course and scope of the employee's duties.

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

H.B. 3748 amends the Human Resources Code to authorize the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), using existing resources, to reimburse a present or former DFPS employee for loss of or damage to personal property caused by a DFPS client in the course and scope of the employee's duties.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.