Bill > HB1440

This bill modifies the reporting requirements for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services' annual report on child protection, expanding the depth and breadth of information that must be included. The bill requires the department to publish a comprehensive report by February 1st each year, with detailed data on children in the child welfare system, including information on child abuse and neglect reports, protective actions, services provided, child deaths, investigation response times, permanency goals, children in foster care, children who are missing from substitute care, child trafficking victims, and placements with relatives or designated caregivers. The bill adds new reporting requirements such as tracking the number of children located after going missing, outcomes of trafficking cases, and detailed statistics on relative and caregiver placements. Notably, the bill introduces a financial penalty of $1,000 per day for late reporting, with any collected penalties to be reallocated to provide monetary assistance to relative and designated caregivers. The new reporting requirements aim to increase transparency and provide more comprehensive data about the child welfare system, with the bill set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Health and Social Services

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB1440