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HB 2809

AN ACT relating to required reporting by the Department of Family and

House Bill
Filed

Filed

Bill introduced by legislator

Committee

Hearing

Passed Cmte

Calendar

Passed

Sent

Enrolled

Governor

Signed

89th Regular Session

Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Bill filed, pending referral to House committee

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Fiscal Note

Not available

What This Bill Does

Requires the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to include additional reporting requirements in its annual public report, specifically tracking the number of children in the department's managing conservatorship who attempt suicide. This new reporting mandate aims to provide transparency and greater insight into the mental health challenges faced by children in the state's foster care system. The report will be published electronically by February 1st each year and will help legislators and the public understand the scope of suicide attempts among children under state care.

Subject Areas

Bill Text

relating to required reporting by the Department of Family and
Protective Services regarding youth in the managing
conservatorship of the department who attempt suicide.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 264.017(b), Family Code, is amended to
(b)  The department shall provide the report required by
Subsection (a) to the legislature and shall publish the report and
make the report available electronically to the public not later
than February 1 of each year.  The report must include, with respect
(1)  information on the number and disposition of
reports of child abuse and neglect received by the department;
(2)  information on the number of clients for whom the
department took protective action, including investigations,
alternative responses, and court-ordered removals;
(3)  information on the number of clients for whom the
department provided services in each program administered by the
child protective services division, including investigations,
alternative responses, family-based safety services,
conservatorship, post-adoption services, and transitional living
(4)  the number of children in this state who died as a
result of child abuse or neglect;
(5)  the number of children described by Subdivision
(4) for whom the department was the children's managing conservator
(6)  information on the timeliness of the department's
initial contact in an investigation or alternative response;
(7)  information on the response time by the department
in commencing services to families and children for whom an
allegation of child abuse or neglect has been made;
(8)  information regarding child protection staffing
(9)  information on the permanency goals in place and
achieved for children in the managing conservatorship of the
department, including information on the timeliness of achieving
the goals, the stability of the children's placement in foster
care, and the proximity of placements to the children's home
(10)  the number of children who suffer from a severe
emotional disturbance and for whom the department is appointed
managing conservator, including statistics on appointments as
joint managing conservator, due to an individual voluntarily
relinquishing custody of a child solely to obtain mental health
(11)  the number of children who are pregnant or a
parent while in the managing conservatorship of the department and
the number of the children born to a parent in the managing
conservatorship of the department who are placed in the managing
conservatorship of the department;
(12)  the number of children who are missing from the
children's substitute care provider while in the managing
conservatorship of the department; [and]
(13)  the number of children who were victims of
trafficking under Chapter 20A, Penal Code, while in the managing
conservatorship of the department; and
(14)  the number of children who attempted suicide
while in the managing conservatorship of the department.
SECTION 2.  Section 264.018(a)(4), Family Code, is amended
(4)  "Significant change in medical condition" means
the occurrence of an injury or the onset of an illness that is
life-threatening or may have serious long-term health
consequences.  The term includes:
(A)  the occurrence or onset of an injury or
illness that requires hospitalization for surgery or another
procedure that is not minor emergency care; and
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to required reporting by the Department of Family and