Bill Text: TX SB1347 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the investigation of a complaint made by a foster child or youth and the results of the investigation.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-07 - Referred to Health & Human Services [SB1347 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-SB1347-Introduced.html
86R13161 MCK-D | ||
By: Watson | S.B. No. 1347 |
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relating to the investigation of a complaint made by a foster child | ||
or youth and the results of the investigation. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 261, Family Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 261.317 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 261.317. NOTICE OF RESULTS OF INQUIRY BY FOSTER CARE | ||
OMBUDSMAN. (a) The department shall notify a child in the | ||
conservatorship of the department of the outcome of an inquiry of | ||
the ombudsman for children and youth in foster care relating to a | ||
report made by the child if it is in the best interests of the child. | ||
(b) The department shall ensure that the child is provided | ||
access to counseling and any other assistance the child may need | ||
relating to the circumstances that gave rise to the report. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 263.008(b), Family Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
(b) It is the policy of this state that each child in foster | ||
care be informed of the child's rights provided by state or federal | ||
law or policy that relate to: | ||
(1) abuse, neglect, exploitation, discrimination, and | ||
harassment; | ||
(2) food, clothing, shelter, and education; | ||
(3) medical, dental, vision, and mental health | ||
services, including the right of the child to consent to treatment; | ||
(4) emergency behavioral intervention, including what | ||
methods are permitted, the conditions under which it may be used, | ||
and the precautions that must be taken when administering it; | ||
(5) placement with the child's siblings and contact | ||
with members of the child's family; | ||
(6) privacy and searches, including the use of storage | ||
space, mail, and the telephone; | ||
(7) participation in school-related extracurricular | ||
or community activities; | ||
(8) interaction with persons outside the foster care | ||
system, including teachers, church members, mentors, and friends; | ||
(9) contact and communication with caseworkers, | ||
attorneys ad litem, guardians ad litem, and court-appointed special | ||
advocates; | ||
(10) religious services and activities; | ||
(11) confidentiality of the child's records; | ||
(12) job skills, personal finances, and preparation | ||
for adulthood; | ||
(13) participation in a court hearing that involves | ||
the child; | ||
(14) participation in the development of service and | ||
treatment plans; | ||
(15) if the child has a disability, the advocacy and | ||
protection of the rights of a person with that disability; [ |
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(16) information relating to a report made by the | ||
child to the ombudsman for children and youth in foster care, | ||
including: | ||
(A) the right to be notified that the report has | ||
been received and is being investigated; | ||
(B) the steps the ombudsman has taken in the | ||
investigation; and | ||
(C) if it is in the child's best interest, the | ||
results of the ombudsman's investigation; and | ||
(17) any other matter affecting the child's ability to | ||
receive care and treatment in the least restrictive environment | ||
that is most like a family setting, consistent with the best | ||
interests and needs of the child. | ||
SECTION 3. Section 531.993, Government Code, is amended by | ||
adding Subsections (b-1) and (c-1) to read as follows: | ||
(b-1) Not later than the fifth day of each month, the | ||
ombudsman shall compile a report regarding the investigations the | ||
ombudsman completed during the preceding month. The report must | ||
include: | ||
(1) a summary of each complaint that was investigated; | ||
(2) the ombudsman's final determination; and | ||
(3) any corrective action recommended by the | ||
ombudsman. | ||
(c-1) The department and the commission's child care | ||
licensing division shall provide written notice to the ombudsman on | ||
whether the department or child care licensing division adopted or | ||
rejected the ombudsman's recommended corrective action. If the | ||
department or child care licensing division rejects a recommended | ||
corrective action, the department or division shall include in the | ||
notice the reason for the rejection. | ||
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |