TITLE: Relating to standards for certain child-care facilities that detain unaccompanied children.

SUMMARY: Relating to standards for certain child-care facilities that detain unaccompanied children.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to standards for certain child-care facilities that detain unaccompanied children. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 42, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Section 42.067 to read as follows: Sec. 42.067. STANDARDS FOR RESIDENTIAL DETENTION FACILITIES. (a) This section applies only to a residential child-care facility that: (1) is operated by or under a contract with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws; and (2) detains a child who is not accompanied by or in the physical custody of a parent, guardian, or other adult family member. (b) The commission shall adopt rules that require a residential child-care facility described by Subsection (a) to: (1) allow each child described by Subsection (a)(2) who is detained in the facility to: (A) contact the child's parent, guardian, or other adult family member at least two times each week by telephone, video conference, or similar form of communication; and (B) visit in person with the child's parent, guardian, or other adult family member; and (2) follow a protocol of trauma-informed care in providing services to the child. (c) If a child-care facility described by Subsection (a) is located 30 miles or less from the facility in which a child's parent, guardian, or other adult family member is detained, the child-care facility shall exercise its best efforts to ensure the child has in-person visits with the child's parent, guardian, or other adult family member. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.