Bills: SB 596, SB 961, SB 1398, SB 1183, SB 1952

Keywords: DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child protective services, foster care, child welfare, Family Code, conservatorship, managing conservator, parental child safety placement, authorization agreement, temporary authorization order, child abuse, child neglect, placement reporting, court-ordered removal, investigation, family preservation, transparency, public reporting, data reporting

Transcript Highlights:

• So we really need to be thinking strategically ahead for 10 to 15 years down the road about what DFPS
• Region 9 is one of the largest DFPS regions.
• One respondent said, "DFPS has basically required the SSCC to do the same thing DFPS was doing before
• DFPS will also be required to submit detailed reports to the court on placement attempts.
• We've seen firsthand how vital it is for abuse and neglect investigations to remain with DFPS.

Bills: SB596, SB961, SB1398, SB1183, SB1952

Keywords: DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child protective services, foster care, child welfare, Family Code, conservatorship, managing conservator, parental child safety placement, authorization agreement, temporary authorization order, child abuse, child neglect, placement reporting, court-ordered removal, investigation, family preservation, transparency, public reporting, data reporting

Bills: SB596, SB961, SB1398, SB1183, SB1952

Keywords: DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child protective services, foster care, child welfare, Family Code, conservatorship, managing conservator, parental child safety placement, authorization agreement, temporary authorization order, child abuse, child neglect, placement reporting, court-ordered removal, investigation, family preservation, transparency, public reporting, data reporting

Bills: HB4, HB54, SB 10, SB 24

Keywords: district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, citizenship, U.S. citizen, non-citizen, public office, advisory board, task force, state government, local government, political subdivision, commission board, appointment eligibility, officeholder qualifications, public service, naturalization, Texas Government Code

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this is my bill we heard previously that relates to the monetary assistance provided by DFPS
• House Bill 2665 amends the Family Code to mandate that DFPS notify the appropriate county or district
• Have the resource witness from DFPS, um, is it Audrey? No one's registered.
• Um, so Marta, uh, Talbert, the DFPS resource witness on the bill, correct? Yes. OK.
• Not typically through DFPS for the investigation side of things.

Bills: HB 741, HB 1199, HB 2070, HB 2402, HB 2542, HB 2665, HB 2789, HB 3096, HB 3396, HB 3595, HB 3747, HB 4116, HB 4127

Keywords: child welfare, relative caregiver, monetary assistance, Department of Family and Protective Services, child custody, family law, emergency power, nursing facilities, assisted living, generator requirements, health and safety, emergency generators, power outage, emergency generator, assisted living facilities, power source, child abuse, neglect registry, court findings, Medicaid

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, this bill adds section 2... 262.117 to the Family Code, which states that DFPS may not remove a
• DFPS resource witness on the bill. Good afternoon. Yes.
• There is a contract between the SSCC and DFPS.
• is DFPS.
• It had been seven years since she had received her finding from DFPS.

Bills: HB741, HB 1199, HB2070, HB2402, HB2542, HB2665, HB2789, HB3096, HB3396, HB3595, HB3747, HB4116, HB4127

Keywords: child welfare, relative caregiver, monetary assistance, Department of Family and Protective Services, child custody, family law, emergency power, nursing facilities, assisted living, generator requirements, health and safety, emergency generators, power outage, emergency generator, assisted living facilities, power source, child abuse, neglect registry, court findings, Medicaid

Transcript Highlights:

• That relates to the monetary assistance provided by DFPS to certain parents.
• certain persons concerning certain events related to children in the. managing conservatorship of DFPS
• And I have the resource witness. from DFPS, is it Audrey, let's see. No one's registered.
• So Marta Talbert. the DFPS resource witness on the bill. Correct, yes. OK, thank you, Marta.
• And there's nothing there, and even DFPS says, hey, this does not. rise to abuse or neglect.

Bills: HB741, HB 1199, HB2070, HB2402, HB2542, HB2665, HB2789, HB3096, HB3396, HB3595, HB3747, HB4116, HB4127

Keywords: child welfare, relative caregiver, monetary assistance, Department of Family and Protective Services, child custody, family law, emergency power, nursing facilities, assisted living, generator requirements, health and safety, emergency generators, power outage, emergency generator, assisted living facilities, power source, child abuse, neglect registry, court findings, Medicaid

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll defer to DFPS on.
• Is, is the question, um, the, the child, it's not a DFPS case?
• That, that's, that's occurring with DFPS for this particular bill.
• Um, and sent to DFPS and DFPS pay those out to, um, the, the substitute caretaker in that court order
• It'll be DFPS. DFPS. Sorry, Department of Family and Protective Services. OK.

Bills: HB 26, HB 140, HB 141, HB 142, HB 215

Keywords: Medicaid, nutrition support, maternal health, chronic conditions, pilot program, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child protective services, child abuse investigations, child neglect, child exploitation, advisory committee, Family and Protective Services Council, council abolition, foster care, due process, investigative procedures, child welfare, parental rights, family preservation services

Transcript Highlights:

• relating to the contract requirements for a contract between a single-source continuum contractor and DFPS
• A contract between a single-source continuum contractor and DFPS.
• DFPS targets getting these reports to the entities taking care of the child in a reasonable amount of
• And the other issue is we have a 31.1% turnover currently according to the DFPS data book.
• Astronomical and very quickly, and the other issue is we have a 31.1% turnover currently according to the DFPS

Bills: SB500, SB1522, SB1137, SB1266

Keywords: SB 500, Texas adoption law, Family Code, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child-placing agency, prospective adoptive parents, adoption records, confidential information, nondisclosure agreement, child history report, health history, social history, educational history, genetic history, termination of parental rights, permanency plan, single source continuum contractor, privacy, redaction

Summary: The Committee on Human Services met with a quorum and first voted out Senate Bill 1589, relating to contract requirements between a single-source continuum contractor and DFPS. The motion to report the bill favorably to the full House with a recommendation that it do pass and be printed prevailed on a 7-0 vote. The committee then heard Senate Bill 500, which would set deadlines for providing foster care adoption records, including health, social, educational, and genetic history reports, to speed adoptions. The bill’s author and witnesses from Addie’s Hope Social Services supported it, saying delays in redacted files can take months, slow permanency for children, and increase costs to the state. Members asked about redactions and sibling/family information, and witnesses explained the bill would mainly speed the preliminary file used to decide whether to proceed with placement. SB 500 was left pending. Members also heard Senate Bill 1266, which would require regular reevaluation of the Medicaid provider support team and add written notice of provider disenrollment at least 30 days in advance. There were no witnesses, no questions, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1522, concerning continuing care retirement communities, was then laid out and supported by LeadingAge Texas and counsel, who said it updates outdated definitions, clarifies licensing and disclosure rules, and strengthens consumer protections for seniors. It was also left pending. After a brief recess, the committee heard Senate Bill 1137, which would prohibit group home consultants from referring people to unlicensed or unpermitted group homes except in limited circumstances, require disclosure of complaints, and create a Class B misdemeanor for violations. Members discussed whether consultants are regulated and noted concerns about unlicensed referral practices. The bill was left pending, and the committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• To be very specific, DFPS stated in their 2023 Missing Youth and trafficking data report, that DFPS's
• By maintaining jurisdiction The courts and DFPS must continue efforts to locate, recover, and provide

Bills: SB66, SB2165, SB2342, SB2878, SB2903

Keywords: disability, supported decision-making, legal assistance, confidentiality, access to justice, autonomy, civil rights, advocacy, Texas Family Code, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child welfare, foster care, substitute care, missing child, missing from placement, permanency hearing, parent-child relationship, SAPCR, conservatorship

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of, I guess just the DFPS data that shows declining performance in some of these rural areas.
• Yeah, we're actually pretty excited about partnering with DFPS.
• Despite my efforts to advocate for the children with both Providence and DFPS, the pleas fell on deaf
• Can we have Audrey O'Neal with DFPS come on up? Thank you.
• Have you as Audrey O'Neal, DFPS deputy commissioner, um, as a resource witness on the bill.

Bills: HB 451, HB 645, HB 1041, HB 1151, HB 1155, HB 1536, HCR 12

Keywords: commercial sexual exploitation, child sex trafficking, human trafficking, child welfare, foster care, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, juvenile probation, risk assessment, needs assessment, trauma screening, child abuse prevention, exploitation screening, validated screening tool, evidence-informed tool, conservatorship, juvenile justice, at-risk youth, trafficking prevention, Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit

Transcript Highlights:

• relating to the contract requirements for a contract between a single-source continuum contractor and DFPS
• timelines for producing reports on the health, social, educational, and genetic history of a child if DFPS
• Very quickly, the other issue is that we have a 31.1% turnover rate currently, according to the DFPS

Bills: SB500, SB1522, SB1137, SB1266

Keywords: SB 500, Texas adoption law, Family Code, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child-placing agency, prospective adoptive parents, adoption records, confidential information, nondisclosure agreement, child history report, health history, social history, educational history, genetic history, termination of parental rights, permanency plan, single source continuum contractor, privacy, redaction

Transcript Highlights:

• The DFPS caseworker may make one of five dispositions.
• This creates consistency and clarity within DFPS when DFPS relies on court orders for registry inclusion
• Sunset will review DFPS this coming interim.
• I recognize that DFPS has a very difficult job.
• If the SSCC fails to provide information to DFPS regarding a child in their care under DFPS conservatorship

Bills: SB397, SB481, SB596, SB760, SB855, SB1195, SB1196, SB1233, SB1257, SB1318, SB1368, SB1388, SB1398, SB1524, SB1558, SB1589, SB1677, SB1792, SB2034

Keywords: SB 397, telemedicine, telehealth, teledentistry, remote care, virtual care, consent documentation, patient consent, data collection, data sharing, audio-only telehealth, in-person examination, irreversible medical procedure, health professional regulation, Occupations Code, Texas Health and Human Services, medical records, provider compliance, data privacy, consumer rights

Transcript Highlights:

• Without a full contract turnover being initiated, this legislation would add a tool to the DFPS toolbox
• can't do anything because, as of statute, we are ultimately responsible to... ...tie the hands of DFPS
• That's what was kind of happening at DFPS with PEI.
• new provisions to increase the tools in the toolbox for DFPS to manage CBC providers.
• And then DFPS reviews it themselves.

Bills: SB397, SB481, SB596, SB760, SB855, SB1195, SB1196, SB1233, SB1257, SB1318, SB1368, SB1388, SB1398, SB1524, SB1558, SB1589, SB1677, SB1792, SB2034

Keywords: SB 397, telemedicine, telehealth, teledentistry, remote care, virtual care, consent documentation, patient consent, data collection, data sharing, audio-only telehealth, in-person examination, irreversible medical procedure, health professional regulation, Occupations Code, Texas Health and Human Services, medical records, provider compliance, data privacy, consumer rights

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill gives DFPS the resources or the authority to do that.
• OK, Audrey O'Neal, uh, with DFPS. So Audrey O'Neal, DFPS resource witness, neutral on the bill.
• The Texas Family Code requires DFPS to maintain a contingency plan.
• Audrey O'Neal, DFPS resource witness on the bill. Happy to answer any questions.
• It would be for an employee of DFPS doing work. It wouldn't be um.

Bills: HB 1531, HB 2667, HB 2809, HB 2865, HB 3589, HB 3151, HB 3748, HB 3750, HB 4419, HB 4643, HB 3597, HB 4129, HB 4130, HB 4131

Keywords: workplace violence prevention, health and safety code, Chapter 331, facility definition, home and community support services agency, home health agency, home health care, nursing staff, registered nurses, health care workplace safety, hospital, nursing facility, ambulatory surgical center, freestanding emergency medical care facility, mental hospital, Texas health care regulation, provider compliance, occupational safety, senior living, referral agencies

Transcript Highlights:

• All three bills complement each other, and all three are needed by DFPS and the state.
• This bill This gives DFPS the resources or the authority to do that.
• Okay, Audrey O'Neill with DFPS. So, Audrey O'Neill, DFPS resource witness, neutral on the bill.
• Audrey O'Neill, DFPS Resource Witness, on the bill. Yes, happy to answer any questions.
• DFPS caseworkers.

Bills: HB1531, HB2667, HB2809, HB2865, HB3589, HB3151, HB3748, HB3750, HB4419, HB4643, HB3597, HB4129, HB4130, HB4131

Keywords: workplace violence prevention, health and safety code, Chapter 331, facility definition, home and community support services agency, home health agency, home health care, nursing staff, registered nurses, health care workplace safety, hospital, nursing facility, ambulatory surgical center, freestanding emergency medical care facility, mental hospital, Texas health care regulation, provider compliance, occupational safety, senior living, referral agencies

Transcript Highlights:

• In June, DFPS will go live, and then in August and September, In June, DFPS will go live.
• DFPS success.
• George Kanata is a DFPS employee.
• You heard from DFPS earlier this morning.
• The referral came to us from DFPS.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• bill that we previously heard that relates to procedures and grounds related to the removal involving DFPS
• I've personally met with members of the DFPS.
• And the record shows you as Audrey O'Neill, and you're the DFPS resource witness on the... Bill.
• Speaking to the licensed side, just from the placement perspective, DFPS licenses the operation.
• I'm sorry, HHSC licenses the operation, and then DFPS makes the placement.

Bills: HB1531, HB2667, HB2809, HB2865, HB3589, HB3151, HB3748, HB3750, HB4419, HB4643, HB3597, HB4129, HB4130, HB4131

Keywords: workplace violence prevention, health and safety code, Chapter 331, facility definition, home and community support services agency, home health agency, home health care, nursing staff, registered nurses, health care workplace safety, hospital, nursing facility, ambulatory surgical center, freestanding emergency medical care facility, mental hospital, Texas health care regulation, provider compliance, occupational safety, senior living, referral agencies

Transcript Highlights:

• So I got the current stats from DFPS and children have an average of 3.2 placements per child.
• And it's also my understanding that DPS DFPS won't place children with anybody unless they understand
• Um, As I said, in my experience, DFPS doesn't place children with with people unless they agree to be
• So, so right now there's a 1 year deadline on DFPS cases.
• Well, that's what I've been told by DFPS caseworkers.

Bills: SB 2041, SB 1777, SB 1681, SB 2311

Keywords: child welfare, foster care, Department of Family and Protective Services, DFPS, Family Code, conservatorship, placement selection, contract residential care, kinship care, relative placement, designated caregiver, best interest of the child, least restrictive setting, placement stability, child protective services, residential treatment, group home, family reunification, Texas foster system, residential care

Transcript Highlights:

• previously, relating to reporting certain information regarding the placement of children in suits filed by DFPS
• And it's also my understanding that DFPS won't place children with anyone unless they understand that
• But anyway, as I said, in my experience DFPS doesn't place children with people unless they agree to
• So right now there's a year deadline on DFPS cases.
• I'm told by DFPS caseworkers, so if that's not correct, then I guess they're not telling me the truth

Bills: SB2041, SB1777, SB1681, SB2311

Keywords: child welfare, foster care, Department of Family and Protective Services, DFPS, Family Code, conservatorship, placement selection, contract residential care, kinship care, relative placement, designated caregiver, best interest of the child, least restrictive setting, placement stability, child protective services, residential treatment, group home, family reunification, Texas foster system, residential care