BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 2041
89R10946 RAL-F	By: Hancock
	Health & Human Services
	4/16/2025
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Placement stability is a critical part of the overall well being of a child and determining positive placements for both foster care children and foster parent or kinship placements. There have been instances of a foster care child's stewardship being given to placements that cannot provide the best care for the child, whether that be due to health issues, age, caring for multiple children already, etc. There have also been cases of foster care children who when being placed with a prospective placement for a second time have not been placed with the original placement family that they already have an established relationship with.

Current law requires the Department of Family and Protective Services to consider the least restrictive setting, the closest geographic proximity to the child's home, the ability to meet the identified needs of the child, and the ability to satisfy any expressed interests of the child when determining whether a foster care placement is in the child's best interest. S.B. 2041 seeks to ensure the long-term care needs of a child are considered in a prospective placement.

As proposed, S.B. 2041 amends current law relating to factors the Department of Family and Protective Services must consider when selecting a foster care placement for a child.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 264.107(c), Family Code, to require the Department of Family and Protective Services, in determining whether a placement is in a child's best interest, to consider certain factors, including whether the placement is able to meet the long-term needs of the child, including placement stability, and to make nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.