| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Neutral | Neutral | Positive | Positive | Positive |
Relating to the provision of mental health services for certain children at risk of relinquishment.
No significant fiscal impact to the State is anticipated.
SB 642 would prevent the Health and Human Services Commission from requiring the Department of Family and Protective Services to conduct a child abuse or neglect investigation before allowing a child to participate in the relinquishment avoidance program unless there is an allegation of abuse or neglect of the child. Local mental health authorities would be allowed to refer a child directly to the relinquishment avoidance program without contacting DFPS.
The relinquishment avoidance program refers to the Health and Human Services Commission's program that provides mental health services to a child with a severe emotional disturbance without the child entering the managing conservatorship of DFPS.
SB 642 would require DFPS and HHSC to jointly adopt comprehensive guidance for providers and families about their rights and roles, publish the information on the agency's website, and make the information available to caseworkers and families with a child who has a severe emotional disturbance. DFPS and HHSC would also be required to jointly adopt clear and concise protocols for families at risk of relinquishing a child solely to assess the mental health services for the child. These protocols would be required to include procedures for determining eligibility for the relinquishment avoidance program; include procedures for applying for the program; identify who will manage the case of a family eligibility; identify the funding and resources for the program; and identify the role of each party involved in the program, including DFPS, HHSC, and local mental health authorities.
SB 642 seeks to establish better access to a program that serves as a stepping stone before a child is removed from their home. Families need to be the priority of policy and SB 642 accomplishes this. This benefits the principles of individual liberty, personal responsibility, and limited government. Texas Action supports SB 642.