BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1144 By: Blanco Health & Human Services 3/28/2025 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT The Texas Family Code limits the time a minor may self-consent to stay at an unlicensed emergency shelter to 15 days. This period falls short of federal contractual expectations set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Family & Youth Services Bureau, for sheltering minors aged 11 to 17. To accommodate minors beyond this 15-day period, shelters must be licensed by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), even if they do not contract to house CPS-involved youth. This requirement creates a financial burden for organizations that do not receive daily reimbursements from the state to care for CPS youth. Under current law, minors in unlicensed shelters must relocate after 15 days if they have not secured safe housing. In communities like El Paso, where only one emergency shelter serves minors over age 11, this policy forces youth to relocate far from their home communities to receive continued care. S.B. 1144 extends this allowable stay to 30 days to improve minors' access to essential services, provide greater stability while they secure long-term placements, and support efforts to reunify families. In addition, S.B. 1144 clarifies that a minor's child only needs to be sheltered with the minor if the child accompanies the minor to the shelter. As proposed, S.B. 1144 amends current law relating to the provision of shelter or care to a minor by an emergency shelter facility. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Sections 32.201(a) and (c), Family Code, as follows: (a) Authorizes an emergency shelter facility to provide shelter and care to a minor and the minor's child or children, if any accompany the minor. (c) Prohibits shelter or care provided under Section 32.201 (Establishment of Program) from being provided after the 30th, rather than the 15th, day after the date the shelter or care is commenced unless certain conditions are met for the minor. SECTION 2. Amends Section 32.202(a), Family Code, to authorize a minor to consent to emergency shelter or care to be provided to the minor's children, if any accompany the minor, under Section 32.201(c), if the minor meets certain conditions. SECTION 3. Provides that the change in law made by this Act applies to emergency shelter or care provided to a minor by an emergency shelter facility on or after the effective date of this Act, regardless of whether the shelter or care commenced before, on, or after that date. SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1144
By: Blanco
Health & Human Services
3/28/2025
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 1144
By: Blanco
Health & Human Services
3/28/2025
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The Texas Family Code limits the time a minor may self-consent to stay at an unlicensed emergency shelter to 15 days. This period falls short of federal contractual expectations set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Family & Youth Services Bureau, for sheltering minors aged 11 to 17. To accommodate minors beyond this 15-day period, shelters must be licensed by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), even if they do not contract to house CPS-involved youth. This requirement creates a financial burden for organizations that do not receive daily reimbursements from the state to care for CPS youth.
Under current law, minors in unlicensed shelters must relocate after 15 days if they have not secured safe housing. In communities like El Paso, where only one emergency shelter serves minors over age 11, this policy forces youth to relocate far from their home communities to receive continued care. S.B. 1144 extends this allowable stay to 30 days to improve minors' access to essential services, provide greater stability while they secure long-term placements, and support efforts to reunify families. In addition, S.B. 1144 clarifies that a minor's child only needs to be sheltered with the minor if the child accompanies the minor to the shelter.
As proposed, S.B. 1144 amends current law relating to the provision of shelter or care to a minor by an emergency shelter facility.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Sections 32.201(a) and (c), Family Code, as follows:
(a) Authorizes an emergency shelter facility to provide shelter and care to a minor and the minor's child or children, if any accompany the minor.
(c) Prohibits shelter or care provided under Section 32.201 (Establishment of Program) from being provided after the 30th, rather than the 15th, day after the date the shelter or care is commenced unless certain conditions are met for the minor.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 32.202(a), Family Code, to authorize a minor to consent to emergency shelter or care to be provided to the minor's children, if any accompany the minor, under Section 32.201(c), if the minor meets certain conditions.
SECTION 3. Provides that the change in law made by this Act applies to emergency shelter or care provided to a minor by an emergency shelter facility on or after the effective date of this Act, regardless of whether the shelter or care commenced before, on, or after that date.
SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.