The bill, H.B. No. 4322, amends Section 42.0537 of the Human Resources Code to establish new training requirements for caregivers, including foster parents. It reduces the maximum amount of preservice training required for potential caregivers from 35 hours to 20 hours. Additionally, it introduces new provisions mandating that caregivers complete 10 hours of competency-based annual training on relevant subjects before renewing their licenses. This training is designed to address the daily living experiences of foster parenting and the specific needs of children in care.

Furthermore, the bill allows foster parents to waive the daily reimbursement rate for foster care services, which exempts them from the annual training requirements, except for any necessary training determined by the department or child-placing agency to meet the unique needs of the child placed with them, capped at five hours per year. The commissioner and executive commissioner are tasked with collaborating to adopt rules for implementing these new training requirements. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Human Resources Code 42.0537 (Human Resources Code 42)