H.B. No. 2789 is a legislative act aimed at regulating child welfare in Texas, specifically addressing licensure, community-based care contractors, family homes, and child-care facilities. A significant addition to the Human Resources Code is Section 42.0413, which exempts "single source continuum contractors" from needing a child-placing agency license to fulfill their contractual obligations with the Department of Family and Protective Services. However, these contractors must still comply with other applicable laws and regulations regarding child welfare services. The bill also clarifies that subcontractors and child-placing agencies under these contractors are not exempt from licensing requirements.

Additionally, the bill amends several existing sections of the Human Resources Code, including changes to immunization requirements for children in care, adjustments to liability insurance coverage amounts, and modifications to the qualifications for child-care and child-placing agency administrators. Notably, the required liability insurance coverage is reduced from $300,000 to $100,000 per occurrence. The bill also repeals a section related to licensing and sets deadlines for the implementation of the new rules, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the safety and well-being of children in the foster care system. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, with specific provisions taking effect on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Human Resources Code 42.043, Human Resources Code 42.049, Human Resources Code 42.0495, Human Resources Code 42.051, Human Resources Code 42.068, Human Resources Code 43.004, Human Resources Code 43.009, Human Resources Code 42.0431 (Human Resources Code 42, Human Resources Code 43)
House Committee Report: Human Resources Code 42.043, Human Resources Code 42.049, Human Resources Code 42.0495, Human Resources Code 42.051, Human Resources Code 42.068, Human Resources Code 43.004, Human Resources Code 43.009, Human Resources Code 42.0431 (Human Resources Code 42, Human Resources Code 43)
Engrossed: Human Resources Code 42.043, Human Resources Code 42.049, Human Resources Code 42.0495, Human Resources Code 42.051, Human Resources Code 42.068, Human Resources Code 43.004, Human Resources Code 43.009, Human Resources Code 42.0431 (Human Resources Code 42, Human Resources Code 43)
Senate Committee Report: Human Resources Code 42.043, Human Resources Code 42.049, Human Resources Code 42.0495, Human Resources Code 42.051, Human Resources Code 42.068, Human Resources Code 43.004, Human Resources Code 43.009, Human Resources Code 42.0431 (Human Resources Code 42, Human Resources Code 43)
Enrolled: Human Resources Code 42.043, Human Resources Code 42.049, Human Resources Code 42.0495, Human Resources Code 42.051, Human Resources Code 42.068, Human Resources Code 43.004, Human Resources Code 43.009, Human Resources Code 42.0431 (Human Resources Code 42, Human Resources Code 43)