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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of an oversight advisory council on foster |
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care placement. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 40.029 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 40.029. OVERSIGHT ADVISORY COUNCIL ON FOSTER CARE |
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PLACEMENT. (a) In this section, "oversight advisory council" |
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means the oversight advisory council on foster care placement |
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established under this section. |
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(b) The oversight advisory council on foster care placement |
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is established to advise the department on foster care placements |
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and review complaints regarding the foster care placement of |
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children in the conservatorship of the department. |
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(c) The oversight advisory council is composed of seven |
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members as follows: |
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(1) five members appointed by the governor, including: |
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(A) one member who represents a religious |
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organization; |
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(B) one member who represents a law enforcement |
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agency; |
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(C) one member who is a foster care parent; and |
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(D) two members who represent the foster care |
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community; |
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(2) one member who represents the foster care |
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community, appointed by the lieutenant governor; and |
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(3) one member who represents the foster care |
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community, appointed by the speaker of the house of |
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representatives. |
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(d) Members of the oversight advisory council serve |
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staggered four-year terms, with the terms of one-half of the |
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members, or as near to one-half as possible, expiring on February 1 |
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of each odd-numbered year. |
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(e) The members of the oversight advisory council serve |
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without compensation and may not be reimbursed for travel expenses |
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incurred while conducting the business of the council. |
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(f) The members of the oversight advisory council shall |
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select from among the members a presiding officer of the council. |
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(g) The oversight advisory council shall meet at least twice |
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each year at the call of the presiding officer. |
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(h) The oversight advisory council shall review the |
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department's foster care placement system and complaints submitted |
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to the department or the Health and Human Services Commission |
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regarding the foster care placement of children in the |
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conservatorship of the department. |
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(i) The department and the Health and Human Services |
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Commission shall provide to the oversight advisory council |
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information, including relevant testimony, on the foster care |
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placement system and on complaints filed with the department or |
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commission regarding the foster care placement of children in the |
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conservatorship of the department. |
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(j) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, |
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the oversight advisory council shall prepare and submit to the |
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department, the Health and Human Services Commission, and the |
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standing committees of each house of the legislature with primary |
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jurisdiction over foster care: |
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(1) a written report summarizing the council's |
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determinations about the foster care placement system and the |
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complaints reviewed regarding foster care placement; and |
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(2) any recommendations for legislation or other |
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action. |
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(k) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the |
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oversight advisory council. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2025, the governor, |
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lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives |
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shall appoint the initial members of the oversight advisory council |
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on foster care placement as required by Section 40.029, Human |
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Resources Code, as added by this Act, to staggered terms with the |
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terms of three members expiring February 1, 2027, and the terms of |
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four members expiring February 1, 2029. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |