H.B. No. 140 introduces significant reforms to the advisory bodies associated with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). The bill establishes a new Child Protective Investigations Advisory Committee, which will focus on improving the accuracy and standardization of investigative practices concerning child abuse, neglect, and exploitation. This committee will provide guidance on policy development, training, and compliance monitoring, and will consist of members appointed by state officials, including the governor and lieutenant governor. In contrast, the bill abolishes the existing Family and Protective Services Council, as indicated by the deletions in the legal text, which remove references to this council from various sections of the Government and Health and Safety Codes.

Additionally, the bill mandates the DFPS to publish a comprehensive report on its website, detailing metrics related to child abuse and neglect investigations for the two fiscal years prior to the report's publication. This report will include various statistics, such as the number of investigations initiated, case dispositions, and the average employment rates of investigators. The bill also sets an expiration date for the advisory committee on September 1, 2029, and amends provisions in the Human Resources Code regarding the selection of external auditors, removing references to a council. H.B. No. 140 is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, with certain provisions becoming 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, Human Resources Code 40, Government Code 521, Government Code 531)
Enrolled: Government Code 521.0003, 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, Human Resources Code 40, Government Code 521, Government Code 531)