The Faith-Based Foster Care Enhancement Act aims to improve the foster care system in Texas by enabling religious organizations to establish and operate faith-based child-care facilities. These facilities, defined as those owned and operated by a religious organization providing 24-hour care for children in state conservatorship, must develop comprehensive plans for the well-being of foster youth, implement staff training programs, and collaborate with licensed mental health providers. A committee appointed by the religious organization will oversee the facility, ensuring the inclusion of various stakeholders such as mental health professionals and community representatives. The bill also introduces a grant program to support these organizations and exempts them from certain licensing requirements while maintaining adherence to state health and safety standards.

Additionally, the bill amends the Penal Code to recognize faith-based child-care facilities as a legitimate category of child-care provider and clarifies that facilities exempt from certain provisions must comply with all other relevant regulations to qualify for federal or state funding. It removes the previous provision that allowed respite care exclusively for local mental health authorities, indicating a broader focus on child-care facilities. The legislation is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Human Resources Code 42.041 (Human Resources Code 42)