By: Wu, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Watson) H.B. No. 1362
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 2, 2019;
May 3, 2019, read first time and referred to Committee on Health &
Human Services; May 20, 2019, reported adversely, with favorable
Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0;
May 20, 2019, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 1362 By: Perry
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the caseloads of child protective services caseworkers.
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 40.05291 to read as follows:
Sec. 40.05291. CASEWORKER CASELOAD SCORING SYSTEM AND
REPORT. (a) The department shall study the development and
implementation of a scoring system to ensure equity in the
distribution of cases among child protective services caseworkers.
As part of the study, the department shall:
(1) consider:
(A) the procedures for assigning cases;
(B) the methods for managing caseloads; and
(C) the factors considered in assigning scores to
caseloads and assigning cases to caseworkers;
(2) determine the appropriate guidelines for average
caseloads for caseworkers in each department region;
(3) determine the cost to implement any scoring system
developed by the department;
(4) ensure any scoring system developed by the
department has the capability of producing monthly reports that
include information for each department region; and
(5) compare the caseloads for caseworkers in each
department region with:
(A) the caseloads of child protective services
caseworkers in other states; or
(B) national best practices.
(b) Not later than September 1, 2020, the department shall
report the results of the study and any recommendations to the
governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of
representatives, and chairs of the standing committees of the
senate and house of representatives having primary jurisdiction
over child protection issues.
(c) This section expires September 1, 2021.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
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