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 children in protective care, the outcomes of investigations, and specific statistics related to children in managing conservatorship, including those who are missing or victims of trafficking.

Additionally, the bill imposes a penalty of $1,000 per day for any delays in filing the required report beyond the February 1 deadline. The comptroller is tasked with assessing this penalty and reallocating the funds 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)