House Bill No. 1440 amends the Family Code to enhance the reporting requirements for the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) regarding child protection. The bill introduces a new definition for "substitute care" and mandates that the DFPS provide an annual report to the legislature and make it publicly available online by February 1 each year. This report must include comprehensive data on various aspects of child protection, such as the number of child abuse reports, protective actions taken, children in managing conservatorship, and specific outcomes related to children placed in substitute care. Notably, the bill expands the reporting requirements to include detailed statistics on children who are missing from substitute care, victims of trafficking, and those placed with relatives or designated caregivers.

Additionally, the bill establishes a penalty of $1,000 per day for the DFPS if the report is not filed by the deadline, with the comptroller responsible for assessing this penalty. The funds collected from these penalties will be reallocated to support monetary assistance for relative and designated caregivers. The provisions of this act are set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Family Code 264.001, Family Code 264.017 (Family Code 264)