Legislative Recap82nd Session

Texas Foster Family Association Conference

October 8, 2011

Our mission is to improve the lives of Texas children by building commitment and action for improved public

policy and programs.

Issue areas:Juvenile Justice

Children’s mental wellbeingChild Welfare

Child and Maternal HealthFamily Financial Security

KEY

• Neutral Good Bill Bad Bill

Child Protection

The Budget

• Overall, caseload growth was not funded.• Reduction of 209 FTE’s-direct service workers• Statewide intake received no additional funding.• PAL Purchased services cut by 6%• Reduction in state matching funds for purchased

adoptions and post-adoptions services. Provider agencies expected to provide match funds.

• Prevention funding cut by 30%

Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention- Related Laws

SB 434 by Nelson – Relationship between domestic violence and child abuse

SB 1154 by Uresti – Taskforce to reduce child abuse and neglect

HB 253 by Hilderbran – Restraining orders vs. removals

Failed to Pass

HB 2637 by Chisum –

Children’s Trust Fund

Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention: Continued

SB 1414 by Duncan – Training for colleges and universities

SB 471 by West – Training for schools and daycares

SB 218 by Nelson – Foster Care Redesign

HB 753 by Raymond – CPS hiring preferences

HB 943 by Dukes – Missing Children in DFPS custody

SB 501 by West – Disproportionality Council

HB 826 by Guillen and Zaffirini- School Liaison

New Laws to Improve Foster Care Services and Outcomes

Mental Wellbeing

Failed to Pass:

SB 681 by West Behavioral

assessments

SB 219 by Nelson – Trauma-informed care

HB 3531 by Strama – Psychotropic medication monitoring

What was Eliminated:Systems of Care (TIFI) and Community

Resource Coordination Groups (CRCG’s)

New Laws for Kinship and Foster Caregivers

SB 993 by Uresti and HB 848 by Guillen – Parental Child Safety Placements

HB 2370 by Dukes – Permanency Care Assistance (PCA)

New Laws for Kinship and Foster Caregivers:Continued

• HB 2560 by Sheffield – Concealed handguns for foster parents

• HB 807 by Parker – 48 hour notice to caregivers

Some New Laws on Judicial Aspects of CPS Cases

HB 3311 and HB 3314 by Carter – Attorney communication

SB 1026 by Harris – Representation of indigent parents

HB 2488 by Scott – Medical records for ad litem’s

Judicial Aspects of CPS Cases- Continued

Failed to Pass

HB 1243 by Miller – Expedited termination for certain mothers

HB 436 by Parker – Foster parents filing suit

HB 835 by Parker – Relatives requesting custody

HB 435 by Parker – Absent fathers’ rights

New Laws for Youth Transitioning out of Foster Care

SB 218 by Nelson – Waives driver’s license fee’s

HB 452 by Lucio – Temporary college housing assistance

HB 2170 by Pena –Bill of Rights and Credit Reports

HB 3234 by Pena – Case records for youth

Bills for Youth Transitioning out of Foster Care

Failed to Pass:

SB 63 by Zaffirini (companion HB 1709 by Dukes)-Matched Savings

Accounts

Failed to Pass

SB 1724 by Zaffirini Tuition and

fee waivers HB 759 by West- Housing

Join Us Today!

Our members help us secure better results for children and Texas.

Membership is FREE for direct service organizations and government

agencies.

To continue our work, we need you at the table as a Texans Care member.

www.txchildren.org/membership

Meets monthly at Texas Capitol

Facilitates communication between DFPS, providers, advocates, and the community

Open meeting for Information-sharing

All welcome

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Partners in Child Protection Reform

Contact:

Ashley R. Harris, MSSW

aharris@txchildren.org

Get the complete report online:

www.txchildren.org