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Texas Statutes (Last Updated: January 4, 2014) |
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GOVERNMENT CODE |
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Title 4. EXECUTIVE BRANCH |
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Subtitle I. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES |
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Chapter 531. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION |
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Subchapter B. POWERS AND DUTIES |
Sec. 531.048. CASELOAD STANDARDS
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(a) After considering the recommendations of the caseload standards advisory committees under Section 531.049(e), the commissioner may establish caseload standards and other standards relating to caseloads for each category of caseworker employed by the Texas Department of Human Services or the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services.
(b) In establishing standards under this section, the commissioner shall:
(1) ensure the standards are based on the actual duties of the caseworker;
(2) ensure the caseload standards are reasonable and achievable;
(3) ensure the standards are consistent with existing professional caseload standards;
(4) consider standards developed by other states for caseworkers in similar positions of employment; and
(5) ensure the standards are consistent with existing caseload standards of other state agencies.
(c) Subject to the availability of funds appropriated by the legislature, the commissioner of human services and the executive director of the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services shall use the standards established by the commissioner under this section to determine the number of personnel to assign as caseworkers for their respective agencies.
(d) Subject to the availability of funds appropriated by the legislature, the Texas Department of Human Services and the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services shall use the standards established by the commissioner to assign caseloads to individual caseworkers employed by those agencies.
(e) The commissioner shall include a recommendation made to the commissioner by a caseload standards advisory committee under Section 531.049(e) in the strategic plan of the agency that is the subject of the recommendation.
(f) Nothing in this section may be construed to create a cause of action.
(g) The executive commissioner shall develop and, subject to the availability of funds, implement a caseload management reduction plan to reduce, not later than January 1, 2011, caseloads for caseworkers employed by the adult protective services division of the Department of Family and Protective Services to a level that does not exceed professional caseload standards by more than five cases per caseworker. The plan must provide specific annual targets for caseload reduction.