HBA-NLM H.B. 2601 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2601
By: Dukes
Human Services
3/22/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, there is no limitation on the number of cases a caseworker for
the Child Protective Services can process at one time.  Research conducted
by the Child Welfare League of America concluded that the ideal case load
is 8 to 10 cases per investigator.  The league formally adopted a
recommendation of 12 to15.  Law suits filed by child advocacy groups in
other states have resulted in court-imposed caps on the number of cases an
individual caseworker may be assigned.  Imposing a statutory cap may
prevent the eventual imposition of a court-ordered cap.  H.B. 2601
prohibits a caseworker of the child protective services division from being
responsible for more than 18 cases at any time. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code, by
adding Section 40.0321, to prohibit a caseworker of the child protective
services division from being responsible for more than 18 cases at any
time, notwithstanding Section 531.048(d) (Caseload Standards), Government
Code. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.