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Senate adopts amendment requiring DFPS remedies for community-based care providers
Summary
The Senate concurred with House amendments to Senate Bill 1398, which adds new accountability measures and directs the Department of Family and Protective Services to use financial penalties and remedies when community-based care providers fail to meet contract terms.
Senator Kolkhorst moved that the Senate concur with House amendments to Senate Bill 1398, saying the bill will impose new guardrails for the community-based care program at the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).
The House amendment changes one word to require DFPS to use financial penalties and remedies when a community-based care (CBC) provider does not follow contract terms. Senator Kolkhorst described the change as correcting a drafting error and said it was made in coordination with DFPS and the House sponsor, Representative Noble.
Why it matters: SB 1398 affects foster-care services delivery and oversight by imposing additional transparency and accountability requirements on CBC providers. The clarified enforcement mechanism gives DFPS an explicit tool to enforce contract terms.
The Senate adopted the motion to concur. The roll call was recorded as 31 ayes and 0 nays; the motion was adopted on the Senate floor.
