Relating to the notification of certain persons concerning certain events related to children in the managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.
CriticalImmediate action required
Low Cost
Effective:2025-06-20
Enforcing Agencies
Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS)
01
Compliance Analysis
Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation
Implementation Timeline
Effective Date:June 20, 2025 (Immediate effect due to supermajority vote).
Compliance Deadline:June 20, 2025. All case management workflows must be updated by this date; there is no grace period.
Agency Rulemaking: DFPS will likely update Minimum Standards to reflect these statutory changes. However, the statute is self-executing. Do not wait for DFPS rules to comply; the 48-hour statutory deadline overrides current administrative codes immediately.
Immediate Action Plan
1.Audit Active Caseload: Immediately review all current files. If the "Parent's Attorney" contact info is missing, file a request with the court or DFPS caseworker this week.
2.Update Software Logic: Reconfigure your CMS to flag a compliance violation if a "Significant Event" is not logged and transmitted within 48 hours.
3.Revise Downstream Protocols: Issue a memo to all foster homes and group home directors mandating immediate reporting of medical or behavioral incidents to the central office.
4.Establish Redundancy: Designate a "Notification Officer" or backup protocol to ensure notices are sent even if the primary caseworker is out of the office.
Operational Changes Required
Contracts
Foster Parent Agreements: You must amend contracts with foster parents to require they report incidents to your agency within 12 to 24 hours. If they delay, your agency will miss the 48-hour state reporting deadline.
DFPS Master Service Agreements: Anticipate a unilateral contract amendment from DFPS updating the "Reporting Requirements" section to align with the new statutory timelines.
Hiring/Training
Case Management Training: Retrain staff immediately. The "weekly summary" approach to reporting is now non-compliant. Shift to a "real-time" reporting model.
Intake Protocols: Intake staff must be trained to demand and record the email and phone number of the Parent's Attorney of Record upon initial placement.
Reporting & Record-Keeping
CMS Updates: Update Case Management Software to mandate "Parent's Attorney" as a required recipient field.
The "Attempt Log": Create a specific form or digital log to document *attempted* notifications. You must record the time, method (email/call), and specific recipient for every attempt to prove "reasonable effort" during future audits.
Placement Changes:
Emergency: Report within 24 hours *after* the event.
Planned: Report 48 hours *before* the move.
Fees & Costs
No New State Fees: There are no new filing fees.
Administrative Burden: Expect increased administrative costs related to the higher volume of required communications and the staff time required to locate and document attorney contacts.
Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations
"Significant Change in Medical Condition": The statute does not define the threshold for "significant." Until DFPS rulemaking clarifies (e.g., does this include dosage changes or only new diagnoses?), adopt a conservative posture: report any medication change or new diagnosis to avoid negligence liability.
"Reasonable Effort": Subsection (d) requires "reasonable effort" to notify within 24 hours for emergency events. The agency has not defined "reasonable." A single phone call will likely be deemed insufficient in a liability hearing. Standardize a "Two-Method Rule" (Email + Phone Call) to establish a defensible audit trail.
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The bill author has informed the committee of concerns with shortcomings of the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), specifically that DFPS does not always properly inform parents and parents' attorneys of significant events and other changes in their child's circumstance while in DFPS conservatorship. Additionally, current law does not explicitly require notification of a parent's attorney of any such significant event and other changes relating to the child. H.B. 694 seeks to address this issue by requiring DFPS to provide to a parent's attorney, if applicable, any notice concerning certain events related to the parent's child while in DFPS conservatorship and by requiring notification of a significant event affecting the child within 48 hours of DFPS becoming aware of the event, rather than within 10 days as is currently required.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 694 amends the Family Code to revise requirements for the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) in notifying certain persons concerning certain events related to children in DFPS managing conservatorship by requiring that any notification currently required to be provided to the child's parent also be provided to the parent's attorney, if the parent is represented by an attorney. The bill further revises these notification requirements as follows:
·requires DFPS to make a reasonable effort to notify a child's parent and the parent's attorney, if applicable, not later than 24 hours after a change in the child's placement;
·changes the deadline for DFPS to provide notice of a significant event affecting a child from not later than the 10th day after the date DFPS becomes aware of the event to not later than 48 hours after becoming aware of the event; and
·requires DFPS to provide notice to a parent's attorney, if the parent is represented by an attorney, if DFPS cannot locate the parent or if the child is in the permanent managing conservatorship of DFPS and the parent has not participated in the child's case for at least six months despite DFPS efforts to involve the parent.
The bill requires DFPS to document all notifications and attempted notifications concerning certain events in the child's case record.
Honorable Lacey Hull, Chair, House Committee on Human Services
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB694 by Gervin-Hawkins (Relating to the notification of certain persons concerning certain events related to children in the managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would require the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to notify the parent's attorney of a change in the child's placement. The bill would also require DFPS to notify the attorney within 48 hours when the agency becomes aware of a significant event affecting the child, or if the parent cannot be located or has not participated in their child's case for at least six months.
It is assumed any costs to the Department of Family and Protective Services could be absorbed within existing appropriations.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
530 Family and Protective Services, Department of
LBB Staff:
JMc, NPe, ER, AN
Related Legislation
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HB694 fundamentally alters the operational tempo for Child Placing Agencies (CPAs) and General Residential Operations (GROs) by slashing the "significant event" reporting window from 10 days to 48 hours. Effective June 20, 2025, providers are statutorily required to notify the parent’s attorney in addition to the parent for all medical, placement, and significant events, regardless of the parent's participation level in the case. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: June 20, 2025 (Immediate effect due to supermajority vote).
Q
Who authored HB694?
HB694 was authored by Texas Representative Barbara Gervin-Hawkins during the Regular Session.
Q
When was HB694 signed into law?
HB694 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.
Q
Which agencies enforce HB694?
HB694 is enforced by Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).
Q
How urgent is compliance with HB694?
The compliance urgency for HB694 is rated as "critical". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.
Q
What is the cost impact of HB694?
The cost impact of HB694 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.
Q
What topics does HB694 address?
HB694 addresses topics including family, family--child protection, lawyers, parental notification and family & protective services, department of.
Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025
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