Bill > HB1460

This bill establishes a specialized 15-member task force within the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to quickly identify and locate relatives and significant individuals connected to children who have been taken into state custody. The task force must begin searching for these individuals within 24 hours of a child being taken into possession and must use due diligence to locate and contact all potential relatives within 72 hours of DFPS filing a suit affecting the parent-child relationship. The task force will include members from various law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Public Safety, the Attorney General's office, municipal police departments, and experienced detectives and private investigators. Additionally, the bill requires DFPS to report to state legislators and the governor within 120 hours of filing a suit, detailing whether all relatives within the fourth degree of consanguinity were identified and contacted. The department must also provide an annual report to state leadership, including statistics on relative placements, foster care placements, and reasons for not placing children with relatives. These provisions aim to improve the process of finding and potentially placing children with family members during child welfare proceedings, with the goal of providing more stable and supportive environments for children in state custody.

Health and Social Services

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB1460