The department must check and record foster care history for children in its care, and the Department of Family and Protective Services must provide similar information to a local juvenile probation department within 14 days of a request. The department must also produce a public report every even-numbered year.
Sec. 243.008. INFORMATION CONCERNING FOSTER CARE HISTORY. (a) In this section, "foster care" means the placement of a child in the conservatorship of a state agency responsible for providing child protective services. (b) The department, during the admission process, shall determine whether a child committed to the department has at any time been in foster care. The department shall record the following on the child's intake form: (1) whether the child is currently in foster care; and (2) if applicable, the number of times the child has previously been placed in foster care. (c) The Department of Family and Protective Services shall, not later than the 14th day after receiving a request from a local juvenile probation department, provide the following information regarding a child in the custody of the probation department: (1) whether the child is currently or has been in foster care; and (2) if applicable, the number of times the child has previously been placed in foster care. (d) Expired. (e) Not later than January 31 of each even-numbered year, the department shall submit a report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and each member of the legislature. The department shall also make the report available to the public on the department's Internet website. The report must summarize statistical information concerning the total number and percentage of children in the custody of the department during the preceding two years who have at any time been in foster care. Data in the report must be disaggregated by: (1) age; (2) sex; (3) race or ethnicity; (4) the conduct for which children were committed to the department; and (5) children entering the juvenile justice system for the first time. Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 246 (H.B. 932), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017. Amended by: Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 806 (H.B. 2229), Sec. 1, eff. June 10, 2019. SUBCHAPTER B. ESCAPE AND VIOLATION OF RELEASE CONDITIONS