Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

_____ HEALTH AND HUMAN
ERVICES/Children/Children
UMAN SERVICES
77 th Texas Legislature
Getting Children Out of Institutionalized Care - S.B. 368
by Senator Zaffirini, et al.
House Sponsors: Representatives Maxey and Naishtat
Currently, there are more than 1,200 children under the age of 21 residing in various Texas institutions,
including intermediate care facilities for people with mental retardation (ICF-MRs) and nursing homes. As
an alternative to institutionalization, permanency planning is a process undertaken on behalf of children
with developmental disabilities that attempts to ensure that all children live with a family. Unfortunately, the
Children's Long-term Care Policy Council concluded that the absence of standardized rules, regulations,
and polices among health and human service agencies present barriers to implementing sound
permanency planning.
Requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and other agencies to develop uniform
permanency planning procedures for each child with a developmental disability younger than 22 years of
age in a Texas institution.
Requires the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (DPRS) to develop a permanency plan for
each child for whom DPRS has been appointed permanent managing conservator.
Requires the Department of Human Services or the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation
to designate a person to serve as a volunteer advocate for a child residing in an institution to assist in
developing a permanency plan for the child.
Requires a state agency that receives notice of a child's placement in an institution to ensure that the child
is also placed on a waiting list for Medicaid waiver program services.
Provides that the chief executive officer of each agency or the officer's designee (CEO) must approve the
placement of a child in an institution. The child may continue to reside in the institution only if the CEO
reviews the case and recommends continued placement every six months and the commissioner of health
and human services approves of the extension.
Requires each agency or the agency's designee to determine the extent to which a nursing home,
institution, or ICF-MR is complying with the permanency planning requirements as a part of each
inspection, survey, or investigation of those institutions.
Fatherhood Initiative - S.B. 875
by Senator West
House Sponsors: Representative Raymond, et al.
The benefits derived from participation by a father in his child’s life are well-documented.
Adds to the list of goals that must be included in the coordinated strategic plan for health and human
services the goal of encouraging full participation of fathers in programs and services relating to children.
Senate Research Center 117