The bill, S.B. No. 1148, amends Section 42.0537 of the Human Resources Code to establish new training requirements for caregivers, including foster parents. It reduces the maximum amount of preservice training required for potential caregivers from 35 hours to 20 hours. Additionally, it introduces new provisions mandating that caregivers complete 10 hours of competency-based annual training on topics relevant to foster parenting and the needs of children in care prior to the renewal of their licenses. The bill also stipulates that the department and relevant agencies must ensure the training subjects are tailored to the caregiver's license and the specific needs of the children they care for.

Furthermore, the bill allows foster parents to waive the daily reimbursement rate for foster care services, which exempts them from the annual training requirements, except for any essential training determined by the department or child-placing agency, limited to a maximum of five hours per year. The commissioner and executive commissioner are tasked with collaborating to adopt necessary rules for implementing these new training requirements. The provisions of this act are set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Human Resources Code 42.0537 (Human Resources Code 42)