H.B. No. 140 proposes to dissolve the current Family and Protective Services Council and establish a new Child Protective Investigations Advisory Committee within the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). The new committee will focus on enhancing the accuracy and standardization of investigative practices concerning child abuse, neglect, and exploitation. It will be responsible for developing policies, monitoring training, and facilitating public input on investigation-related matters. The bill outlines the committee's composition, with members appointed by state officials, and emphasizes the confidentiality of investigation-related information while requiring annual reports to be submitted to key state officials.

Additionally, the bill mandates the publication of a comprehensive report on the DFPS website, detailing metrics related to child abuse and neglect investigations for the two fiscal years prior to the report's release. This report will cover various statistics, including the number of investigations initiated, case outcomes, and challenges in standardizing training programs. The bill also streamlines the efficiency audit process by removing references to a council and limiting the involvement to the department's chief financial officer and internal audit director. Several sections of the Human Resources Code will be repealed to simplify regulations, with the bill set to take effect on September 1, 2025, and specific provisions regarding efficiency audits effective on September 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: ()
House Committee Report: ()
Engrossed: ()
Senate Committee Report: Government Code 521.0003, Government Code 531.0012, Health and Safety Code 552.103, Human Resources Code 40.002, Human Resources Code 40.004, Human Resources Code 40.045 (Health and Safety Code 552, Government Code 521, Government Code 531, Human Resources Code 40)