The bill, S.B. No. 1524, amends the Human Resources Code to enhance the confidentiality and handling of information regarding weapons in agency foster homes. It introduces several new subsections that prohibit the commission, the department, and child-placing agencies from requiring agency foster homes to disclose specific types of weapons, including firearms, present in the home or to notify them of any changes in such weapons. Additionally, if any agency obtains information about the types of weapons in a foster home, they are restricted from using that information for any purpose other than to determine the presence of weapons.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a civil penalty for child-placing agencies that violate these confidentiality provisions, with fines up to $5,000 for each violation, enforceable by the attorney general. It also explicitly states that information regarding the types of weapons in agency foster homes is confidential and not subject to public disclosure under the Government Code. The provisions of this act are set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Human Resources Code 42.042 (Human Resources Code 42)