81R11325 MCK-D
By: Rose H.B. No. 4159
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to Department of Family and Protective Services
caseworkers and other employees.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 531.048, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (d-1) to read as follows:
(d-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (d), the Department of
Family and Protective Services shall increase the number of
department caseworkers so that:
(1) the average caseload for child protective services
caseworkers, adult protective services caseworkers, and
specialists in the child-care licensing division are equal to 80
percent of the average caseload that existed on January 1, 2009, for
those employees; and
(2) each child in the department's conservatorship is
able to be visited by the child's caseworker at least once each
month.
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code,
is amended by adding Section 40.0327 to read as follows:
Sec. 40.0327. CASEWORKER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION STUDY.
The department shall perform a study to determine ways to improve
the recruitment and retention of caseworkers. The study must
examine the factors that lead to caseworker turnover, including
salary, job stress, and training.
SECTION 3. The Department of Family and Protective Services
shall increase and maintain the salary, including any supplemental
pay, for case management and investigative caseworkers and
supervisors and shall extend the equivalent supplemental pay to:
(1) each program director and program administrator in
an investigation unit in the child protective services division;
and
(2) each caseworker, supervisor, program director,
and program administrator in the child protective services division
providing services through conservatorship programs, foster care
and adoption programs, and family-based safety services programs.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.