81R2677 MCK-D
By: Uresti, Shapiro S.B. No. 1734
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the Department of Family and Protective Services
caseworker replacement program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 40.0324, Human Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 40.0324. CASEWORKER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. (a) In this
section:
(1) "Caseworker" means a full-time department
employee who serves as a child protective services specialist.
(2) "Training academy" means an entity established by
the department to train caseworkers.
(a-1) The [To the extent that funding is available, the]
department shall develop a program to provide for the timely
replacement of caseworkers with trainees hired in anticipation of
vacancies.
(b) In developing the program, the department shall:
(1) remove the limit on the number of authorized
positions for a category of caseworker in a region of the state in
which the turnover rate for that category exceeds 20 percent;
(2) increase the number of trainee positions for a
category of caseworker described by Subdivision (1) in the training
academy in the region to a total that is 140 percent of the number of
trainee positions that existed immediately before September 1,
2009;
(3) maintain the number of trainers and other
necessary positions in the training academy in the region at the
level necessary to accomplish the purposes of Subdivision (2); and
(4) provide available funds as necessary to accomplish
the purposes of this subsection [consider the turnover rate for
caseworkers by region].
SECTION 2. (a) Not later than December 31, 2010, the
Department of Family and Protective Services shall submit a report
to the legislature regarding the effect of Section 40.0324, Human
Resources Code, as amended by this Act, on the retention of
caseworkers in the state.
(b) The report under Subsection (a) of this section must
include an assessment of the continuing need for the caseworker
replacement program under Section 40.0324, Human Resources Code, as
amended by this Act, and a recommendation on whether the program
should be continued.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.