| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
Relating to the regulation of child-care facilities and foster care placements and services and the creation of the Office of Community-Based Care Transition.
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB 1896, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted: A NEGATIVE impact of ($32,235,820) through the biennium ending August 31, 2023.
The Office of Community-Based Care Transition, the Department of Family and Protective Services, and the Health and Human Services Commission are required to implement this Act only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the office, department, and the commission may, but are not required to, implement the Act using other appropriations available for the purpose.
SB 1896 would place several restrictions upon the courts and the Department of Family and Protective Services to ensure parent participation and work with faith and community-based organizations to design a volunteer mentor program.
SB 1896 would require the "community-based care" to now utilize direct case management to: prevent entry into foster care; reunify and preserve families; ensure child safety, permanency, and well-being; and reduce future referrals of children or parents to the department. The Health and Human Services Commission or department would enter into a single-source continuum contract to provide services in a given region. The department would then be required to ensure that this program is being run efficiently. SB 1896 would require the commission to develop a strategic plan to improve educational standards in each general residential operation. These operations would further be required to adopt an evidence-based treatment model that individualizes treatment.
In addition, SB 1896 would then require the Health and Human Services Commission with DFPS to develop a plan to increase placement in designated areas and annually evaluate benefits under Medicaid and the STAR Health program for children. To help in these tasks, SB 1896 would require DFPS and HHSC to switch to a fully electronic filing system and develop a child-care licensing searchable database accessible by their investigators. The department would use data analytics collected from providers to develop an early warning system to identify at-risk providers most in need of technical support and corrective actions. SB 1896 would further develop a provisional license for relatives of a foster child or another adult with a longstanding and significant relationship with the child known as a kinship provider.
SB 1896 would repeal:
We are generally supportive of the aims of this legislation, however due to the large fiscal note we remain neutral.