Bill Text: TX SB1948 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to caseworker visitation standards for certain child protective services caseworkers.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-19 - Referred to Health & Human Services [SB1948 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-SB1948-Introduced.html
  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.
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