By: West, Menéndez  S.B. No. 596          (In the Senate - Filed December 13, 2024; February 3, 2025,   read first time and referred to Committee on Health & Human   Services; April 7, 2025, reported favorably by the following vote:     Yeas 7, Nays 0; April 7, 2025, sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to reporting certain information regarding the placement   of children and suits filed by the Department of Family and   Protective Services.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Sections 264.017(b) and (f), Family Code, are   amended to read as follows:          (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   to the preceding year:                (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   services;                (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   at the time of death;                (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   and caseloads by program area;                (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   counties;                (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   services for the child;                (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)  information on the outcome of each suit filed by   the department and the type of placement of the child during the   pendency of the suit.          (f)  In addition to the other reports required by this   section, the department shall publish on the department's Internet   website a monthly report containing the following information for   the preceding month:                (1)  with respect to parental child safety placement   agreements:                      (A) [(1)]  the number of children placed under a   parental child safety placement agreement, disaggregated by:                            (i)  the child's age, race, gender,   ethnicity, and county of residence;                            (ii)  the annualized incomes of the parent   or other person with whom the child resides and the caregiver of the   child; and                            (iii)  whether the child has previously been   in the managing conservatorship of the department;                      (B)  the number of parental child safety placement   agreements in effect on the last day of the month;                      (C) [(2)]  the average duration of a placement   under a parental child safety placement agreement;                      (D) [(3)]  the average duration of a placement   under a parental child safety placement agreement during an   investigation; and                      (E) [(4)]  the percentage of children removed   from a placement under a parental child safety placement agreement   and placed in the managing conservatorship of the department; and                (2)  by child protective services region with respect   to:                      (A)  authorization agreements executed under   Chapter 34 regarding a child who is the subject of an investigation   of abuse or neglect, a suit filed by the department, or an agreement   under which the department provides services to the child's parent:                            (i)  the number of authorization agreements   executed;                            (ii)  the number of children subject to   authorization agreements, disaggregated by the child's race and   gender; and                            (iii)  the average duration of an   authorization agreement; and                      (B)  court orders for temporary authorization for   care of a child under Chapter 35 regarding a child who is the   subject of an investigation of abuse or neglect, a suit filed by the   department, or an agreement under which the department provides   services to the child's parent:                            (i)  the number of orders signed;                            (ii)  the number of children subject to   orders, disaggregated by the child's race and gender; and                            (iii)  the average duration of an order.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.     * * * * *