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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 donation registry by the |
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Department of Family and Protective Services for providing personal |
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items to children in the department's conservatorship. |
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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 264.1079 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 264.1079. PERSONAL BELONGINGS FOR FOSTER CHILDREN |
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DONATION REGISTRY. (a) The department shall establish and |
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maintain or contract with a third party to establish and maintain an |
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online registry of requested personal items for children who enter |
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the department's conservatorship or change placement while in the |
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department's conservatorship. The department shall develop |
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procedures for the storage and distribution of personal items |
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donated based on the registry. |
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(b) The department shall provide personal items donated |
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based on the registry to a child who is being removed from the |
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child's home or changing placement. Personal items provided to a |
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child under this subsection belong to the child and may not be |
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reclaimed by the department or retained by the child's foster |
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parent. |
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(c) 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 department's supply inventory and inventory |
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management practices for personal items donated based on the |
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registry; and |
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(2) the number of children in the department's |
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conservatorship provided personal items in accordance with this |
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section. |
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(d) 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, 2025. |