Bill > HB140

This bill eliminates the Family and Protective Services Council and creates a new Child Protective Investigations Advisory Committee to improve the accuracy and standardization of child abuse and neglect investigations. The new advisory committee will be composed of 15 members appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house, and the Department of Family and Protective Services commissioner, including representatives from various backgrounds such as law enforcement, legal professionals, parents, and former foster youth. The committee will meet quarterly, review a random sample of closed child protective investigations, and produce an annual report detailing investigation statistics, challenges, and recommendations for improving investigative processes. The bill removes references to the existing council in multiple sections of state law and provides that the new advisory committee will be in place from September 1, 2025, to September 1, 2029, after which it will be automatically abolished. The changes aim to enhance transparency, accountability, and effectiveness in child protective services investigations by creating a diverse advisory body with specific responsibilities for monitoring and recommending improvements to investigative practices.

Health and Social Services

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB140