| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to policies and procedures of the Department of Family and |
|
|
Protective Services, including regarding service plans and |
|
|
post-removal assessments. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 263.1021, Family Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows: |
|
|
(c-1) If the department does not accept the certification |
|
|
from a service provider under Subsection (c), not later than the |
|
|
48th hour after the department issues the denial, the department |
|
|
shall notify the parent's state representative, the parent's state |
|
|
senator, and the department's office of internal affairs about the |
|
|
department's denial of the certification and the reason for the |
|
|
denial. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 264.1076, Family Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows: |
|
|
(b-1) In addition to the medical examination required by |
|
|
Subsection (b), the department shall ensure that not later than the |
|
|
end of the 15th day after the date a child described by Subsection |
|
|
(a) is removed from the child's home, the child receives: |
|
|
(1) a child and adolescent needs and strengths |
|
|
assessment; and |
|
|
(2) a medical checkup conducted in accordance with the |
|
|
Texas Health Steps program. |
|
|
SECTION 3. Section 264.1076(b-1), Family Code, as added by |
|
|
this Act, applies only to a child who enters the conservatorship of |
|
|
the Department of Family and Protective Services on or after the |
|
|
effective date of this Act. A child who enters the conservatorship |
|
|
of the Department of Family and Protective Services before the |
|
|
effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the |
|
|
date the child entered the conservatorship of the department, and |
|
|
the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
|
|
SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
|
|
a suit filed by the Department of Family and Protective Services on |
|
|
or after the effective date of this Act. A suit filed by the |
|
|
department before that date is governed by the law in effect on the |
|
|
date the suit was filed, and the former law is continued in effect |
|
|
for that purpose. |
|
|
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |