H.B. No. 3555 proposes the establishment of a donation registry by the Department of Family and Protective Services to provide personal items to children in the department's conservatorship. The bill adds Section 264.1079 to Subchapter B, Chapter 264 of the Family Code, which mandates the department to either maintain the registry or contract with a third party for its maintenance. The registry will list requested personal items for children entering or changing placements within the department's conservatorship. Additionally, the department is required to develop procedures for the storage and distribution of these donated items.
The bill also stipulates that personal items provided to children during removal or placement changes belong to the child and cannot be reclaimed by the department or retained by foster parents. Furthermore, the department must submit an annual report to the legislature detailing inventory management practices and the number of children receiving items from the registry. The department is authorized to solicit and accept donations to support this initiative. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.
Statutes affected: Introduced: ()