85R3620 MM-D
By: White H.B. No. 1478
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to emergency placements of children by the Department of
Family and Protective Services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 42, Human Resources Code,
is amended by adding Section 42.0533 to read as follows:
Sec. 42.0533. EMERGENCY PLACEMENT. (a) In this section,
"emergency placement" means the temporary placement of a child in a
foster home, foster group home, agency foster home, or agency
foster group home for less than 72 hours.
(b) The department and each child-placing agency with whom
children in the managing conservatorship of the department are
placed shall identify and compile a list of all licensed foster
homes and foster group homes or verified agency foster homes and
agency foster group homes that are able to accept the emergency
placement of a child when a safe and suitable long-term placement is
not available.
(c) The department shall collaborate with child-placing
agencies to:
(1) develop procedures for the emergency placement of
children; and
(2) increase the number of foster homes, foster group
homes, agency foster homes, and agency foster group homes that are
able to accept the emergency placement of children.
(d) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules governing
the reimbursement of a foster home, a foster group home, an agency
foster home, or an agency foster group home that accepts the
emergency placement of a child.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.