HB1320 - Relating to membership on county Child Welfare Boards in certain counties.

      By: Schoolcraft H.B. No. 1320       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to membership on county Child Welfare Boards in certain   counties.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1. - TEXAS FAMILY CODE   Texas Family Code Sec. 264.005 is amended to read as follows:   264.005 COUNTY CHILD WELFARE BOARDS.   (a)  The commissioners court of a county may appoint a child   welfare board for the county. The commissioners court and the   department shall determine the size of the board and the   qualifications of its members. However, a board must have not less   than seven and not more than 15 members , . and t The members must be   residents of the county , except in counties with a population less   than 500,000 no more than one-third of the members may be residents   of contiguous counties . The members shall serve at the pleasure of   the commissioners court and may be removed by the court for just   cause. The members serve without compensation.   (b)  With the approval of the department, two or more counties may   establish a joint child welfare board if that action is found to be   more practical in accomplishing the purposes of this chapter. A   board representing more than one county has the same powers as a   board representing a single county and is subject to the same   conditions and liabilities.   (c)  The members of a county child welfare board shall select a   presiding officer and shall perform the duties required by the   commissioners court and the department to accomplish the purposes   of this chapter.   (d)  A county child welfare board is an entity of the department for   purposes of providing coordinated state and local public welfare   services for children and their families and for the coordinated   use of federal, state, and local funds for these services. The   child welfare board shall work with the commissioners court.   (e)  A county child welfare board is a governmental unit for the   purposes of Chapter 101, Civil Practice and Remedies Code.   (f)  A county child protective services board member may receive   information that is confidential under Section 40.005, Human   Resources Code, or Section 261.201 when the board member is acting   in the member's official capacity.   (g)  A child welfare board may conduct a closed meeting under   Section 551.101, Government Code, to discuss, consider, or act on a   matter that is confidential under Section 40.005, Human Resources   Code, or Section 261.201.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.