| 1 | 1 | | 89R13656 RAL-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Allen H.B. No. 3853 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to trauma-informed care training for foster parents. |
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| 10 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 11 | 11 | | SECTION 1. Section 264.015, Family Code, is amended by |
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| 12 | 12 | | adding Subsection (f) to read as follows: |
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| 13 | 13 | | (f) Each foster parent who provides care for children and |
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| 14 | 14 | | youth in the conservatorship of the department shall complete a |
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| 15 | 15 | | training program regarding trauma-informed care and the effect of |
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| 16 | 16 | | trauma on children and youth in the conservatorship of the |
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| 17 | 17 | | department. The training must include information regarding: |
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| 18 | 18 | | (1) the symptoms of trauma and the impact trauma has on |
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| 19 | 19 | | a child or youth, including the effect of trauma on development, |
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| 20 | 20 | | emotions, memories, behavior, and decision-making; |
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| 21 | 21 | | (2) attachment and the effect a lack of attachment may |
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| 22 | 22 | | have on a child or youth; |
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| 23 | 23 | | (3) the role that trauma-informed care and services |
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| 24 | 24 | | can have in a child's or youth's ability to build connections, feel |
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| 25 | 25 | | safe, and regulate emotions to assist the child or youth with |
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| 26 | 26 | | building resiliency and overcoming the effects of trauma and |
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| 27 | 27 | | adverse childhood experiences; |
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| 28 | 28 | | (4) the importance of screening children and youth for |
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| 29 | 29 | | trauma and the risk of mislabeling and inappropriate treatment of |
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| 30 | 30 | | children and youth without proper screening, including the risks |
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| 31 | 31 | | and benefits associated with the use of psychotropic medication; |
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| 32 | 32 | | (5) the potential for re-traumatization of children |
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| 33 | 33 | | and youth in the conservatorship of the department; and |
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| 34 | 34 | | (6) the availability of: |
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| 35 | 35 | | (A) research-supported, trauma-informed, |
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| 36 | 36 | | non-pharmacological interventions; and |
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| 37 | 37 | | (B) trauma-informed advocacy to increase access |
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| 38 | 38 | | by a child or youth in the conservatorship of the department to: |
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| 39 | 39 | | (i) trauma-informed care; and |
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| 40 | 40 | | (ii) trauma-informed mental and behavioral |
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| 41 | 41 | | health services. |
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| 42 | 42 | | SECTION 2. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective |
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| 43 | 43 | | date of this Act, the Department of Family and Protective Services |
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| 44 | 44 | | shall adopt the rules necessary to implement Section 264.015(f), |
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| 45 | 45 | | Family Code, as added by this Act. |
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| 46 | 46 | | (b) The Department of Family and Protective Services shall |
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| 47 | 47 | | ensure that a foster parent required to complete the training under |
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| 48 | 48 | | Section 264.015(f), Family Code, as added by this Act, completes |
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| 49 | 49 | | the training not later than September 1, 2027. |
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| 50 | 50 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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