The Faith-Based Foster Care Enhancement Act aims to alleviate the shortage of foster care facilities 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.

Additionally, the bill introduces a grant program to assist religious organizations in creating these facilities and exempts them from certain licensing requirements while still requiring compliance with minimum health and safety standards. It emphasizes the integration of faith-based facilities into the state's foster care system and mandates the establishment of faith-family programs for mentorship and support of foster youth. The legislation also amends the Penal Code to recognize faith-based child-care facilities as a legitimate category and removes the previous provision for respite care facilities exclusively for local mental health authorities. The effective date for this legislation is set for September 1, 2025.

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