Child Welfare Related Bills: 82nd State Legislature *UPDATE*

*UPDATED 4/25/11 (see highlighted items)

Note:  Given the length of the original list created on 4/7/11, I did not add any new bills to the list.  I updated the status of existing bills as of that date.  All bill information taken from the Texas Legislature website at: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Home.aspx.

HB 121: Representative Castro
Status: Voted out of Committee, 4/18/2011 House Reported favorably w/o amendment(s).

·        Topic: Relating to standing for certain individuals to file a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.

·        Fiscal Note: No fiscal implication is anticipated.  

SB 218: Senator Nelson
Status: Out of Committee, 4/13/2011 House Received from the Senate.

·        Topic: Relating to procedures in certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship and the operation of the child protective services and foster care systems.

·        Fiscal Note: Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB218, As Introduced: A negative impact of ($596,072) through the biennium ending August 31, 2013.  The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

HB 244: Representative Hartnett
Status: Referred Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee on 2/15/11.

·        Topic: Relating to the responsibilities of the Department of Family and Protective Services as trustee of the Parrie Haynes Trust.

·        Fiscal Note: Not posted.

HB 253: Representative Hilderbran
Status: Voted out of the House, 4/20/2011 Referred to Senate HHS Committee.

·        Topic: Relating to the protection of children by enforcing compulsory public school attendance requirements, ensuring reports of abuse or neglect, protecting children from abuse and neglect, ensuring that births are reported, and prosecuting the offense of bigamy; providing criminal penalties.

·        Fiscal Note: No significant fiscal implication.

SB 269: Senator Uresti
Status: Referred to HHS Committee on 1/31/11.

·        Topic: Relating to a foster children's bill of rights.

·        Fiscal Note: No significant fiscal implication.

 

SB 283: Senator Harris Companion Senate Bill is SB 501 by Senator WestStatus: Referred to Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee on 3/30/11.

·        Topic: Relating to the appointment of associate judges in child protective services cases.

·        Fiscal Note: No fiscal impact.  

 

HB 337: Representative Johnson
Status: Referred to Transportation Committee on 2/15/11.

·        Topic: Relating to increasing awareness of the danger of leaving a child in a motor vehicle.

·        Fiscal Note: Not posted. 

 

SB 434: Senator Nelson
Status: Voted out of Committee, 4/20/2011 House Received from the Senate.

·        Topic: Relating to the relationship between domestic violence and child abuse and neglect.

·        Fiscal Note: Not posted. 

 

HB 452: Representatives Lucio III & Raymond

Companion Senate Bill is SB 1705 by Senator LucioStatus: 4/11/2011 House Considered in Calendars.

Senate Version (SB 1705): Referred to Higher Ed Committee on 3/23/11.

·        Topic: Relating to temporary housing between academic terms for certain postsecondary students who have been under the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.

·        Fiscal Note: No significant fiscal implication.   

 

SB 532: Senator Davis
Status: Referred to HHS Committee on 2/17/11.

·        Topic: Relating to a study by the Department of Family and Protective Services regarding establishing a system to identify children born to certain parents.

·        Fiscal Note: Not posted.

 

SB 681: Senator West
Status: Voted out of Committee. 4/19/2011 Senate Placed on intent calendar.

·        Topic: Relating to the establishment of a task force to study the assessments of children in the child welfare system.

·        Fiscal Note: Not posted.

 

HB 712: Representative Walle
Status: Referred to Human Services Committee on 2/21/11.

·        Topic: Relating to employee caseload and call processing standards for the provision of child and adult protective services.

·        Fiscal Note: Not posted. 

 

HB 753: Representative Raymond
Status: Out of Committee, 4/19/2011 House Reported favorably as substituted.

·        Topic: Relating to the recruitment and retention of certain caseworkers employed by the Department of Family and Protective Services.

·        Fiscal Note: Not posted. 

 

HB 792: Representatives Zerwas & Miles
Status: 4/12/2011 Left pending in Human Services Committee.

·        Topic: Relating to the notice requirements for and effective date of a service plan filed by the Department of Family and Protective Services with regard to a child.

·        Fiscal Note: Not posted.

HB 793: Representatives Zerwas & Miles
Status: Referred to Civil & Jurisprudence Committee on 2/23/11.

·        Topic: Relating to parent education and family stabilization courses in certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship.

·        Fiscal Note: Not posted.

  

HB 794: Representatives Zerwas & Miles
Status: Referred to Human Services Committee on 2/23/11.

·        Topic: Relating to investigations of child abuse or neglect, including the placement of children removed from their homes as a result of an investigation.

·        Fiscal Note: Not posted.

HB 826: Representative Farias
Status: Left pending in Public Education Committee 4/19/2011.

·        Topic: Relating to facilitating the enrollment in or transfer to a public school district of a student in the conservatorship of the state.

·        Fiscal Note: No significant fiscal impact anticipated. 

HB 835: Representative Parker
Status: Out of Committee, 4/14/2011 House Reported favorably as substituted. 

·        Topic: Relating to standing for certain individuals to file a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.

·        Fiscal Note: No significant fiscal impact anticipated. 

HB 848: Representatives Guillen and Raymond
Status: 4/13/2011 Referred to Senate Health & Human Services Committee.

·        Topic: Relating to an agreement authorizing certain persons to make decisions regarding a child during an investigation of child abuse or neglect.

·        Fiscal Note: No significant fiscal impact anticipated.

HB 943: Representative Dukes
Status: Voted out of the House, 4/20/2011 Referred to Senate HHS Committee.

·        Topic: Relating to reporting requirements concerning missing persons, including missing children in the managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.

·        Fiscal Note: No significant fiscal implication anticipated.

HB 945: Representatives Dukes & Coleman Companion Senate Bill is SB 501 by Senator West
Status: 4/19/2011 House Committee report sent to Calendars.

Senate Version (SB 501): 4/19/2011 Left pending in House Committee.

·        Topic: Relating to the establishment of an interagency council for addressing disproportionality [in juvenile justice, child welfare, education, and mental health systems].

·        Fiscal Note: As introduced: a negative impact of ($294,682) through the biennium ending August 31, 2013.

HB 1099: Representative Farias
Status: Out of Committee, 4/18/2011 House Committee report filed with Committee Coordinator.

·        Topic: Relating to creating an advisory committee on child protective services in the region that includes Bexar County for the Department of Family and Protective Services.

·        Fiscal Note: Not posted.

HB 1114: Representative Parker

Companion Senate Bill is SB 471 by Senator West
Status: Left pending in Public Education Committee 4/19/2011.

Senate Version (SB 471): Referred to HHS Committee on 2/14/11.

·        Topic: Relating to public school and child-care facility policies addressing sexual abuse and other maltreatment of children.

·        Fiscal Note: Not posted.

SB 1154: Senator Uresti
Status: 4/13/2011 House Received from the Senate.

·        Topic: Relating to a task force for the development of a strategy to reduce child abuse and neglect and improve child welfare.

·        Fiscal Note: No significant fiscal impact anticipated.

  

SB 1178: Senator Nelson
Status: 4/21/2011 House Received from the Senate.

·        Topic: Relating to the regulation of certain shelter day-care facilities, child-care facilities, and individuals providing child-care services, and access to certain criminal history record information; providing an administrative penalty.

·        Fiscal Note: Not posted.

  

HB 1194: Representatives Zerwas and Miles
Status: Referred to Human Services Committee on 3/1/11.

·        Topic: Relating to investigations and other procedures with respect to allegations of child abuse and neglect.

·        Fiscal Note: Not posted.

SB 1643: Senator Uresti
Status: Referred to Jurisprudence Committee on 3/23/11.

·        Topic: Relating to mandatory dismissal deadlines and extended jurisdiction in suits affecting the parent child relationship to which the Department of Family and Protective Services is a party.

·        Fiscal Note: Not posted.

HB 1782: Representative Farias
Status: Left pending in Human Services Committee 4/10/2011.

·        Topic: Relating to a report on efforts made by the Department of Family and Protective Services to place children in adoptive homes.

·        Fiscal Note: Not posted.

HB 1854: Representatives Rodriguez and Naishtat

Companion Senate Bill is SB 993 by Senator Uresti.
Status: 04/25/2011 House Reported engrossed: Apr 25 2011 12:30PM.

Status of Senate Version (SB 993): 4/21/2011 House Received from the Senate.

·        Topic: Relating to certain arrangements to provide care for a child during an investigation of abuse or neglect.

·        Fiscal Note: No significant fiscal implication anticipated.

HB 2210: Representative Farias
Status: Left pending in Human Services Committee on 4/5/11.

·        Topic: Relating to the release of certain information regarding child fatalities resulting from abuse or neglect.

·        Fiscal Note:  Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2210, As Introduced: A negative impact of ($692,498) through the biennium ending August 31, 2013.  The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

HB 2324: Representative Raymond
Status: Left pending in Public Education Committee 4/19/11.

·        Topic: Relating to reports of child abuse or neglect by school district employees and records of training regarding child abuse and neglect for certain child-care facilities..

·        Fiscal Note: Not posted.

HB 2554: Representative Brown
Status: Referred to Civil & Jurisprudence Committee on 3/15/11.

·        Topic: Relating to possession of or access to a child in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.

·        Fiscal Note: Not posted.

HB 2557: Representatives Brown, Burkett, Phillips (Coauthors: Davis, Patrick, Smith)
Status: Left pending in Civil & Jurisprudence Committee on 3/28/11.

·        Topic: Relating to a suit for access to a child by a grandparent.

·        Fiscal Note: No significant fiscal impact anticipated.

HB 2706: Representative Nash
Status: Referred to Human Services Committee on 3/16/11.

·        Topic: Relating to a study of child abuse or neglect committed by a foster child against another foster child.

·        Fiscal Note: Not posted.

HB 2820: Representative Farias
 Status: 4/19/2011 House Withdrawn from schedule.

·        Topic: Relating to the establishment of a pilot program in Bexar County to provide an educational course to certain parents on the effects of child abuse and neglect.

·        Fiscal Note: Not posted.

HB 2965: Representative Naishtat

Companion Senate Bill is SB 1026 by Senator Harris
Status: Referred to Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee on 3/17/11.

Senate Version (SB 1026): 4/21/2011 House Received from the Senate.

·        Topic: Relating to the powers and duties of an attorney ad litem appointed for a parent in certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship.

·        Fiscal Note: Not posted.

HB 3175: Representative Parker
Status: Referred to Human Services Committee on 3/18/11.

·        Topic: Relating to notice to certain persons that a child is in the managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.

·        Fiscal Note: Not posted.

HB 3234: Representatives Naishtat, Hernandez Luna, and Rodriguez E.

Companion Senate Bill is SB 277 by Senator Davis
Status: 4/20/2011 House Reported engrossed: Apr 20 2011 7:10P.
Senate Version (SB 277): Referred to HHS Committee on 1/31/11.

·        Topic: Relating to the preparation of case records of children discharged from foster care.

·        Fiscal Note: Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3234, As Introduced: A negative impact of ($5,527,260) through the biennium ending August 31, 2013.  The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

HB 3454: Representative Workman
Status: In Civil & Jurisprudence Committee, 4/27/2011 Scheduled for public hearing

·        Topic: Relating to the age at which a child may express a preference to the court on issues regarding residence and conservatorship in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.

·        Fiscal Note: Not posted.

HB 3531: Representative Strama
Status: 4/26/2011 House Placed on Local, Consent, and Res. Calendar.

·        Topic: Relating to the provision of certain prescription medications to a foster child.

·        Fiscal Note: Not posted.

Rebecca Lengnick-Hall
MSSW & MPA Candidate
University of Texas at Austin
4/25/11