S.B. No. 593
 
 
 
AN ACT
relating to an independent assessment of the Health and Human
Services Commission's and the Department of Family and Protective
Services' rules, minimum standards, and contract requirements that
apply to certain residential child-care providers.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 42, Human Resources Code,
is amended by adding Section 42.027 to read as follows:
       Sec. 42.027.  INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT. (a) Not later than
March 31, 2024, the commission shall contract with an independent
entity that has demonstrated expertise in evaluating state child
welfare systems and conducting statistical and operational
analysis to conduct an assessment of:
             (1)  the commission's and the department's rules,
minimum standards, and contract requirements that apply to
child-placing agencies, residential child-care facilities
including foster homes, relative caregivers, and adoptive homes;
and
             (2)  the standards or oversight requirements
prescribed by law to determine:
                   (A)  the relevance of the standard or oversight
requirement;
                   (B)  whether the standard or oversight
requirement complies with federal laws, rules, or guidelines; and
                   (C)  whether the standard or oversight
requirement is the best practice.
       (b)  Not later than September 30, 2024, or the date of the
next comprehensive review required under Section 42.042(b),
whichever occurs first, the independent entity shall complete the
assessment and submit to the commission and the department a report
that includes the findings of the assessment and recommendations
for:
             (1)  simplifying the commission's minimum standards for
the purposes of:
                   (A)  prioritizing the health, safety, and
well-being of children residing in a residential child-care
facility including a foster home or the home of a relative caregiver
or an adoptive parent; and
                   (B)  reducing any barriers to opening a
child-placing agency or a residential child-care facility or
becoming a relative caregiver, a foster parent, or an adoptive
parent;
             (2)  adjusting the commission's system for assigning
weights to minimum standards to ensure that the system is
methodical, consistent, and reflective of a strategic model for
increasing the focus on the health, safety, and well-being of
children residing in a residential child-care facility including a
foster home or the home of a relative caregiver or an adoptive
parent, including an explanation of the recommended adjustments;
             (3)  taking into consideration the model licensing
standards recommended by the Administration for Children and
Families of the United States Department of Health and Human
Services, eliminating any minimum standards that are weighted as
low, medium-low, or medium by the commission and are not directly
related to child safety;
             (4)  addressing any licensing, training, or oversight
requirements that are barriers to retaining high-quality
residential child-care facilities including foster homes, relative
caregivers, or adoptive parents;
             (5)  updating licensing standards for the purposes of:
                   (A)  prioritizing the health, safety, and
well-being of children residing in a residential child-care
facility including a foster home or the home of a relative caregiver
or an adoptive parent; and
                   (B)  reducing any barriers to the hiring and
retention of high-quality leadership, administrators, and staff at
child-placing agencies and residential child-care facilities;
             (6)  providing maximum flexibility in applying
standards to ensure that services are provided in response to the
needs of each individual child residing in a residential child-care
facility including a foster home or the home of a relative caregiver
or an adoptive parent;
   

Statutes affected:
Introduced: ()
Senate Committee Report: ()
Engrossed: ()
House Committee Report: ()
Enrolled: ()