85R13079 MK-D
By: Burkett H.B. No. 3096
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the recruitment and evaluation of foster care providers
and the placement of children with foster care providers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 264.107, Family Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (b-2) to read as follows:
(b-2) The department shall, subject to the availability of
funds, use a web-based system to assist the department in making the
best placement decision for a child in foster care. The system must:
(1) integrate a level of care for the child;
(2) suggest placements based on the child's needs;
(3) display the proximity of potential providers to
the child's home and school;
(4) incorporate foster care provider preferences;
(5) provide access to the foster care provider's
history in providing safe and stable placements for children; and
(6) include any other provider information the
department determines to be relevant.
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is
amended by adding Section 264.1131 to read as follows:
Sec. 264.1131. FOSTER CARE PROVIDER RECRUITMENT PLAN. In
addition to foster parent recruitment from faith-based
organizations under Section 264.113, the department shall, subject
to the availability of funds, collaborate with current foster and
adoptive parents to develop and implement a foster care provider
recruitment plan. The plan must:
(1) identify geographic areas in the state where there
is a need for foster care providers using risk stratification
modeling or risk assessments of geographic areas with high
occurrences of child abuse and neglect or child fatalities;
(2) use data analysis, social media, partnerships with
faith-based and volunteer organizations, and other strategies for
recruitment, including targeted and child-focused recruitment;
(3) identify the number of available foster care
providers for children with high needs in order to expand the use of
therapeutic or treatment foster care for children in those
placements;
(4) require the provision of:
(A) quality customer service to prospective and
current foster and adoptive parents; and
(B) assistance to prospective foster parents
with the certification and placement process;
(5) include strategies for increasing the number of
kinship providers;
(6) include strategies to ensure that children in
foster care do not have to transfer schools after entering foster
care, unless transferring is in the child's best interest; and
(7) include programs to support foster and adoptive
families, including programs that provide training, respite care,
and peer assistance.
SECTION 3. Section 264.903, Family Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
(a-1) The department shall expedite the evaluation of a
potential caregiver under this section to ensure that the child is
placed with a caregiver who has the ability to protect the child
from the alleged perpetrator of abuse or neglect against the child.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.