86R13162 MM-D
By: Watson S.B. No. 1948
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to caseworker visitation standards for certain child
protective services caseworkers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is
amended by adding Section 264.105 to read as follows:
Sec. 264.105. IN-PERSON VISITS WITH FOSTER CHILDREN. (a)
The department shall conduct an in-person meeting at least once
each month with each child in the conservatorship of the department
and document the results of the meeting in the child's case file.
Each monthly meeting must include:
(1) a complete assessment of the child's safety,
including an assessment of the child's placement;
(2) if the child is verbal, an interview with the child
conducted individually, separately, and privately from the
caregiver and other children;
(3) a discussion of the forms of discipline used in the
placement; and
(4) a review of the child's medical, mental health,
dental, and educational progress and needs.
(b) The department shall update the department's automated
case tracking and information management system to allow
caseworkers to record each meeting with a child as described by
Subsection (a)(2).
(c) If the department fails to meet with a child during a
month, the department shall document in the child's case file the
reason for the failure.
(d) If the monthly meeting required by Subsection (a) is not
conducted by the primary caseworker assigned to a child protective
services case, the caseworker shall communicate with the child at
least once each month by telephone, video conference, or another
developmentally appropriate form of communication.
(e) The department shall ensure that each child protective
services caseworker receives training regarding the visitation
requirements of this section.
(f) Not later than the 30th day following the last day of
each calendar quarter, the department shall submit to the
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 a report on:
(1) the total number of caseworker visits with
children in the department's conservatorship that caseworkers were
required to make each month of the calendar quarter;
(2) the total number of caseworker visits with
children in the department's conservatorship that caseworkers
actually made each month of the calendar quarter, including
face-to-face visits and visits conducted by other means as
authorized under Subsection (d); and
(3) the number of visits caseworkers made each month
as a percentage of the number of visits caseworkers were required to
make during that month.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.