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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the effective management of caseloads in the |
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investigation of child abuse or neglect reports by the Department |
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of Family and Protective Services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 261.3015, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (c-1), (c-2), and (c-3) to read as follows: |
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(c-1) The executive commissioner shall by rule establish, |
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and the department shall implement, a formal review process under |
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which any reported case that remains open 60 days following a report |
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of abuse or neglect must be reviewed by a department supervisor for |
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administrative closure under Subsection (c). A reported case |
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described by this subsection qualifies for administrative closure |
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if: |
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(1) there is no prior report of abuse or neglect of the |
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child who is the subject of the report; |
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(2) no additional report of abuse or neglect of the |
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child has been received following the original report; and |
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(3) after contacting a professional or other credible |
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source, the supervisor determines that the child's safety can be |
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assured without further investigation, response, services, or |
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assistance. |
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(c-2) A reported case that is reviewed under Subsection |
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(c-1) and does not qualify for administrative closure may be |
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reassigned to a different department caseworker if reassignment |
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would allow the department to make the most effective use of |
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resources to investigate and respond to reported cases of abuse or |
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neglect. |
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(c-3) The department shall develop a training program for |
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department supervisors and department caseworkers who investigate |
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reports of abuse or neglect. The training program must include |
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information on: |
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(1) effective utilization of the alternative response |
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system; and |
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(2) the process of, and requirements for, |
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administrative closure. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2017, the executive |
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commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall |
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adopt the rules necessary to implement Section 261.3015, Family |
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Code, as amended by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |