S.B. No. 596 aims to enhance the reporting requirements for the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) regarding the placement of children and the suits filed by the department. The bill amends Sections 264.017(b) and (f) of the Family Code to include additional data points in the annual report provided to the legislature and made available to the public. Notably, the report will now include information on the outcomes of each suit filed by the department and the type of placement of the child during the pendency of the suit. Furthermore, the bill mandates that the department publish a monthly report detailing various statistics related to parental child safety placement agreements, including the number of children placed, their demographics, and the average duration of such placements.

In addition to the new reporting requirements, the bill also removes certain existing language while adding new provisions. For instance, it replaces the previous requirement for reporting the average duration of placements under parental child safety agreements with more detailed disaggregation of data, such as the child's age, race, and whether they have previously been in the department's conservatorship. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, following its favorable report by the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Family Code 264.017 (Family Code 264)
Senate Committee Report: Family Code 264.017 (Family Code 264)