H.B. No. 2789 aims to amend the Human Resources Code concerning child welfare regulations, specifically focusing on licensure, community-based care contractors, family homes, and child-care facilities. A significant addition is the introduction of Section 42.0413, which exempts single source continuum contractors from needing a child-placing agency license to fulfill their contractual obligations with the department. 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 modifies several existing provisions, including reducing the required liability insurance coverage for license holders and listed family homes from $300,000 to $100,000 per occurrence. It also updates the duration of initial licenses from six months to twelve months and revises the educational requirements for child-care and child-placing agency administrators to allow for experiential or educational equivalents to a bachelor's degree. The bill mandates that the Department of Family and Protective Services adopt necessary rules to implement these changes by December 1, 2025, with certain sections 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)