83R13219 MCK-F
By: Uresti S.B. No. 1758
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a task force to examine hiring and
management practices of the Department of Family and Protective
Services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter X to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER X. TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES
HIRING AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Sec. 531.971. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
Commission.
(2) "Department" means the Department of Family and
Protective Services.
(3) "Division" means the child protective services
division of the Department of Family and Protective Services.
(4) "Task force" means the Task Force to Examine
Hiring and Management Practices to Improve Hiring and Retention of
Child Protective Services Caseworkers and Improve Child Welfare.
Sec. 531.972. ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE; COMPOSITION.
(a) The task force is established to examine hiring and management
practices, to develop policy recommendations, if needed, and to
design a comprehensive performance-based compensation and
recognition system with the goal of increasing retention and
reducing turnover of division caseworkers.
(b) The task force is composed of:
(1) the following members appointed jointly by the
chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and the
chair of the House Human Services Committee:
(A) one member from the department
administration;
(B) one former division caseworker;
(C) three members from the department, each of
whom is at a different stage of service in the division as follows:
(i) one current division caseworker;
(ii) one current division supervisor; and
(iii) one current division program
director;
(D) two chief executive officers of corporations
that use performance-based compensation in their organization;
(E) one consultant for a nonprofit organization
that specializes in human resources and recruitment and retention
initiatives;
(F) two human resources directors for for-profit
entities who are familiar with performance-based compensation and
the recruitment and retention of employees; and
(G) one member from a statewide advocacy
organization that advocates in the field of child protective
services;
(2) one member from the human resources department of
the commission appointed by the executive commissioner of the
Health and Human Services Commission; and
(3) any other person the chair of the Senate Health and
Human Services Committee and the chair of the House Human Services
Committee jointly determine to be appropriate.
Sec. 531.973. VACANCY. A vacancy on the task force shall be
filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
Sec. 531.974. PRESIDING OFFICER. The member appointed by
the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services
Commission shall serve as the presiding officer of the task force.
Sec. 531.975. MEETINGS. The task force shall meet at the
call of the presiding officer.
Sec. 531.976. COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT. Members of the
task force are not entitled to compensation or reimbursement for
expenses.
Sec. 531.977. DUTIES. (a) The task force shall:
(1) receive reports and testimony from individuals,
state and local agencies, community-based organizations, and other
public and private organizations;
(2) examine hiring and management practices that
reduce turnover and improve outcomes for children, including
performance-based compensation and recognition, increasing the
percentage of hiring specialists with prior division experience,
improving caseworker screening processes, improving caseworker
assignments to best fit employee skills, involving unit supervisors
in the hiring and academy training processes, implementing a
statewide mentorship program, and developing caseworker unit
assignment process to particular geographic regions; and
(3) develop any necessary policy recommendations.
(b) The task force shall prepare a report that includes:
(1) a description of the activities of the task force;
(2) the findings and recommendations of the task
force, including any proposed policy recommendations; and
(3) any proposals for legislation or other matters the
task force considers appropriate.
(c) Not later than September 1, 2014, the task force shall
submit the report required by Subsection (b) to the governor, the
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
and the appropriate committees of the senate and the house of
representatives.
Sec. 531.978. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. The commission shall
provide reasonably necessary administrative and technical support
for task force activities.
Sec. 531.979. RULEMAKING ASSISTANCE. The department shall
seek the assistance of the task force if the department proposes to
adopt or amend a rule as the result of a recommendation of the task
force.
Sec. 531.980. APPLICABILITY OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE LAW.
Chapter 2110 does not apply to the task force.
Sec. 531.981. EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and
this subchapter expires September 1, 2015.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the appropriate persons shall appoint the members of
the task force created by Subchapter X, Chapter 531, Government
Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2013.