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TexasSB 51389th Legislature Regular SessionSenate

Relating to a rural community-based care pilot program.

Sponsored By: Tom Craddick, Kevin Sparks (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Electronic Information SystemsFamily--Child ProtectionHuman Services--Child ServicesLabor--Workforce Development--RuralMinors--Health & SafetyState Finances--Management & ControlADOPTIONFOSTER CARERURALFAMILY & PROTECTIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Local voices shape rural family services

DFPS must seek local input when selecting the pilot's lead, considering community support, partnerships, and ability to coordinate regional groups. DFPS and the lead must plan services, a timeline, and funding. Services must cover family support and preservation, case management, foster and kinship care, adoption and post-adoption help, and youth leaving foster care. The plan must address service gaps, provider coordination, new approaches, quality, and financial risks. A community group must help plan resources, assess needs, set local goals, build services, and promote keeping families together. It must also provide education and advocacy. The lead can direct resources, hire providers, and set policies consistent with law and DFPS policies unless waived. DFPS can combine pilot design and delivery in one contract request and seek a separate evaluation contract.

Pilot funding must reflect rural costs

DFPS must ask the lead whether fixed funding per child is workable and develop that model if DFPS finds it feasible. Either way, funding must reflect rural costs, share financial risks, reward results, support new approaches, and allow flexible spending. The model must also support reinvesting savings, and DFPS must seek state, federal, and other funding sources. Before implementation, DFPS must prepare a Program Development Report, due January 1, 2027, stating whether funding is sufficient. The law sets no per-child rate or total funding amount.

Rural family services face independent review

DFPS must hire an independent evaluator with child-welfare and rural service expertise to review the pilot after implementation. The review must assess family outcomes, cost-effectiveness, the rural care approach, community involvement and satisfaction, delivery as planned, and system changes. DFPS, the lead, and related entities must cooperate and provide needed information. DFPS, the lead, and other required groups must review findings and make an improvement plan. Annual implementation reports begin December 1, 2028, and must include evaluation findings, denied waivers, and change orders with funding sources and costs.

Rural child welfare workers get development planning

DFPS and the lead must include a workforce plan in the rural care pilot. It must address recruiting and keeping child-welfare workers in rural areas. It must also include training based on best practices and opportunities for career growth. The law sets no wages or workforce funding amount.

Rural care providers gain limited flexibility

The lead can request waivers of DFPS child-welfare policies or procedures through a required application process; approval is not guaranteed. DFPS contract-change requests must explain the change and its reasons, analyze costs, and identify funding or proposed budget adjustments. Changes are subject to negotiation, and the lead can reject changes that lack enough funding or greatly alter contracted care. That rejection right does not cover changes required by law or court order, or needed for a child's health or safety. Disputes must use a formal conflict-resolution process, and DFPS keeps oversight of service quality. Leads and subcontractors must follow court orders covering children and contracted duties for which they are responsible.

Rural care records get sharing safeguards

DFPS must assess whether a shared electronic system can support real-time case management, provider coordination, and tracking results. Whether or not that system is built, DFPS must provide needed data and technical help, secure sharing, and privacy rules. Pilot service records held by the lead and subcontractors follow the same child-abuse confidentiality and public-records laws as DFPS records. In covered child-welfare proceedings, the lead and its personnel count as DFPS representatives for attorney-client privilege. That protection covers communications with lawyers representing DFPS or those lawyers' representatives.

Rural child welfare pilot has limits

Effective September 1, 2025, the law creates a Texas rural child-welfare pilot run through a selected local lead organization. The region must have drawn no prior bids, proposals, or other interest in providing community-based care. At least two-thirds of its counties must have 50,000 or fewer residents. The lead must be a local government or a nonprofit whose entire board lives in the service area. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) can launch the pilot only with sufficient funding. The pilot law expires September 1, 2031, with legislative review required by that date.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Tom Craddick

    House

  • Kevin Sparks

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • César Blanco

    Democratic • Senate

  • Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa

    Democratic • Senate

  • Charles Perry

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 308 • No: 2

House vote • 4/29/2025

Record vote

Yes: 145 • No: 1

House vote • 4/28/2025

Record vote

Yes: 145 • No: 1

Senate vote • 3/26/2025

Record vote

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/26/2025

Record vote

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote • Unknown

Committee vote: Health & Human Services

Yes: 8 • No: 0

House vote • Unknown

Committee vote: Human Services

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective on 9/1/25

    5/13/2025House

  2. Signed by the Governor

    5/13/2025House

  3. Sent to the Governor

    5/1/2025House

  4. Signed in the House

    5/1/2025House

  5. Signed in the Senate

    4/30/2025Senate

  6. Reported enrolled

    4/29/2025Senate

  7. House passage reported

    4/29/2025Senate

  8. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal

    4/29/2025House

  9. Record vote (RV#787)

    4/29/2025House

  10. Passed

    4/29/2025House

  11. Read 3rd time

    4/29/2025House

  12. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal

    4/28/2025House

  13. Record vote (RV#630)

    4/28/2025House

  14. Passed to 3rd reading

    4/28/2025House

  15. Read 2nd time

    4/28/2025House

  16. Laid out in lieu of companion (HB 1536)

    4/28/2025House

  17. Committee report sent to Calendars

    4/28/2025House

  18. Committee report distributed

    4/28/2025House

  19. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator

    4/25/2025House

  20. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)

    4/25/2025House

  21. Considered in formal meeting

    4/25/2025House

  22. Referred to Human Services

    4/9/2025House

  23. Read first time

    4/9/2025House

  24. Received from the Senate

    3/27/2025House

  25. Reported engrossed

    3/26/2025Senate

Bill Text

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