85R1609 MCK-D
By: Wu H.B. No. 690
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a best practices guide for persons involved in child
protective services cases.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code,
is amended by adding Section 40.0529 to read as follows:
Sec. 40.0529. BEST PRACTICES GUIDE FOR CHILD PROTECTIVE
SERVICES CASES. (a) The department shall develop a best practices
guide to establish uniform practices in child protective services
cases across this state. The guide must:
(1) describe the different stages of a child
protective services case, including intake, initial investigation,
assessment of the child and family, case planning, court
proceedings, case management services, and case closure;
(2) describe the roles and responsibilities of the
persons involved in each stage identified in Subdivision (1); and
(3) include definitions of commonly used terms, model
timelines and procedural flowcharts for the most common child
protective services cases, and a list by area of services available
to children and parents.
(b) The department shall design the best practices guide to
assist:
(1) an attorney representing a child or parent in a
suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed by the
department;
(2) a judge presiding over a case described in
Subdivision (1);
(3) a guardian ad litem representing a child in a case
described by Subdivision (1);
(4) a child protective services caseworker or
investigator; and
(5) any other individual involved in a child
protective services case that the department determines would
benefit from the best practices guide.
(c) The department shall make the best practices guide
available on the department's Internet website.
SECTION 2. 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, 2017.