Bill Text: TX SB907 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Comm Sub
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to the definition of the least restrictive environment for the placement of children in foster care.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 5-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-05-05 - Referred to Human Services [SB907 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-SB907-Comm_Sub.html
Bill Title: Relating to the definition of the least restrictive environment for the placement of children in foster care.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 5-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-05-05 - Referred to Human Services [SB907 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-SB907-Comm_Sub.html
| By: Birdwell, et al. | S.B. No. 907 | |
| (In the Senate - Filed February 15, 2017; February 28, 2017, | ||
| read first time and referred to Committee on Health & Human | ||
| Services; April 18, 2017, reported adversely, with favorable | ||
| Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 1; | ||
| April 18, 2017, sent to printer.) | ||
| COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 907 | By: Kolkhorst | |
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| relating to the definition of the least restrictive environment for | ||
| the placement of children in foster care. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Section 263.001(a), Family Code, is amended by | ||
| amending Subdivision (3-a) and adding Subdivision (3-b) to read as | ||
| follows: | ||
| (3-a) "Least restrictive setting" means a placement | ||
| for a child that, in comparison to all other available placements, | ||
| is the most family-like setting. | ||
| (3-b) "Physician assistant" has the meaning assigned | ||
| by Section 157.051, Occupations Code. | ||
| SECTION 2. Section 263.001, Family Code, is amended by | ||
| adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: | ||
| (c) With respect to a child who is removed from the child's | ||
| home, if a suitable relative or other designated caregiver is not | ||
| available, placing the child in a foster home or a general | ||
| residential operation operating as a cottage home is considered the | ||
| least restrictive setting. | ||
| SECTION 3. Section 264.001, Family Code, is amended by | ||
| adding Subdivision (3-a) to read as follows: | ||
| (3-a) "Least restrictive setting" means a placement | ||
| for a child that, in comparison to all other available placements, | ||
| is the most family-like setting. | ||
| SECTION 4. Section 264.107, Family Code, is amended by | ||
| adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: | ||
| (c) In selecting a placement for a child, the department | ||
| shall consider whether the placement is in the child's best | ||
| interest. In determining whether a placement is in a child's best | ||
| interest, the department shall consider whether the placement: | ||
| (1) is the least restrictive setting for the child; | ||
| (2) is the closest in geographic proximity to the | ||
| child's home; | ||
| (3) is the most able to meet the identified needs of | ||
| the child; and | ||
| (4) satisfies any expressed interests of the child | ||
| relating to placement, when developmentally appropriate. | ||
| SECTION 5. This Act takes effect only if a specific | ||
| appropriation for the implementation of the Act is provided in a | ||
| general appropriations act of the 85th Legislature. | ||
| SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. | ||
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