Texas HB 140: Relating to advisory bodies for the Department of Family and Protective Services, including the creation of the child protective investigations advisory committee and the abolition of the Family and Protective Services Council.

Bill Text

H.B.ANo.A140
AN ACT
relatingto advisorybodiesfortheDepartmentof Familyand
ProtectiveServices,includingthe creationof the childprotective
investigationsadvisorycommitteeand the abolitionof the Family
and ProtectiveServicesCouncil.
BE IT ENACTEDBY THE LEGISLATUREOF THE STATEOF TEXAS:
SECTION
A1.AAEffectiveSeptember1,2026,Section
521.0003(c),GovernmentCode,is amendedto readas follows:
(c)
AAA referenceto any of the followingcouncilsmeansthe
executivecommissioneror theexecutivecommissioner
’s designee,
as appropriate,and a functionof any of the followingcouncilsis a
functionof thatappropriateperson:
(1)
AAthe Healthand HumanServicesCouncil;
(2)
AAthe Agingand DisabilityServicesCouncil;
(3)
AAtheAssistiveandRehabilitativeServices
Council;or
(4)
AA[subjectto Chapter316 (H.B.5), Actsof the 85th
Legislature,RegularSession,2017,theFamilyandProtective
ServicesCouncil;or
[(5)]
AAthe StateHealthServicesCouncil.
SECTION
A2.AAEffectiveSeptember1, 2026,Section552.103(c),
Healthand SafetyCode,is amendedto readas follows:
(c)
AATheinspectorgeneralshallsubmittheannualstatus
reportto the:
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(1)AAexecutivecommissioner;
(2)
AAcommissionerof statehealthservices;
(3)
AAcommissionerof  theDepartmentof  Familyand
ProtectiveServices;
(4)
AAStateHealthServicesCouncil;
(5)
AA[Familyand ProtectiveServicesCouncil;
[(6)]
AAgovernor;
(6)
A[(7)]AAlieutenantgovernor;
(7)
A[(8)]AAspeakerof the houseof representatives;
(8)
A[(9)]AAstandingcommitteesof the senateand house
of representativeswithprimaryjurisdictionoverstatehospitals;
(9)
A[(10)]AAstateauditor;and
(10)
A[(11)]AAcomptroller.
SECTION
A3.AAEffectiveSeptember1, 2026,Section40.002(a),
HumanResourcesCode,is amendedto readas follows:
(a)
AATheDepartmentof FamilyandProtectiveServicesis
composedof [thecouncil,]thecommissioner,an administrative
staff,and otheremployeesnecessaryto efficientlycarryout the
purposesof thischapter.
SECTION
A4.AAEffectiveSeptember1, 2026,Sections40.004(b)
and (c),HumanResourcesCode,are amendedto readas follows:
(b)
AAThecommissioner[, withtheadviceof thecouncil,]
shallprepareinformationof  publicinterestdescribingthe
functionsof  thedepartment.
AAThecommissionshallmakethe
informationavailableto the publicand appropriatestateagencies.
(c)
AAThe commissionershallgrantan opportunityfor a public
hearing[beforethecouncilmakesrecommendationstothe
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commissionerregardinga substantiverule]if a publichearingis
requestedby:
(1)
AAat least25 persons;
(2)
AAa governmentalentity;or
(3)
AAan associationwithat least25 members.
SECTION
A5.AASubchapterB,  Chapter40,   HumanResourcesCode,
is amendedby addingSection40.031to readas follows:
Sec.
A40.031.AACHILDPROTECTIVEINVESTIGATIONSADVISORY
COMMITTEE.(a)Thecommissionershallestablishan advisory
committeeon  childprotectiveinvestigationsto  improvethe
accuracyandstandardizationof theapplicationof investigative
legalrequirementsanddepartmentinvestigativepoliciesand
proceduresduringchildabuse,neglect,andexploitation
investigationsrelatingtoa  persondescribedbySection
261.001(5)(A),(B),or (C),FamilyCode.Theadvisorycommittee
shalladviseand makerecommendationsto the departmenton:
(1)
AAdevelopingandimplementingpoliciesand
proceduresandmonitoringtrainingto increasetheaccuracyand
consistencyof  abuse,neglect,andexploitationinvestigation
processesand procedures;
(2)
AAdevelopingand implementinga modelfor conducting
investigationsthatensurescompliancewithdueprocess
requirements;
(3)
AAdevelopinga  consistentengagementmodelfor
communicatingwithlegaladvocatesinvolvedin childprotective
investigationsand courtspresidingoverchildprotectiveservices
cases;
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(4)AAdevelopingandmonitoringeffectivetrainingfor
all investigativeemployees;
(5)
AAmonitoringcompliancewithinvestigation
proceduresand processes;
(6)
AAdevelopingand implementinga data-informedmodel
for conductinginvestigations;and
(7)
AAprovidinga forumfor publicinputon problemsor
concernsrelatedto investigations.
(b)
AAThe advisorycommitteeshall:
(1)
AAmakerecommendationsfor:
(A)
AAconductingchildprotectiveinvestigations;
(B)
AAmonitoringcompliancewithinvestigative
requirementsunderstateand federallaw;
(C)
AAdevelopingand monitoringthe implementation
of policiesandproceduresto protectthedueprocessrightsof
individualssubjectto childabuseor neglectinvestigations;and
(D)
AAmonitoringtheexecutionof  policiesand
proceduresacrossall departmentjurisdictionsfor the subjectof
an investigation;
(2)
AAidentifyany challengesor barriersto:
(A)
AAthestandardizationofchildprotective
investigativepracticesand procedures;and
(B)
AAtheapplicationandimplementationof legal
requirementsand departmentinvestigativepoliciesand procedures
in childabuseand neglectinvestigations;
(3)
AAmakerecommendationsto addressissuesidentified
underSubdivision(2),includinganytrainingorother
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