Texas Insight compiled a list of Medicaid related bills reported by HHSC to be in active implementation. The information provided is the most current available from reliable sources.
STAR Health/Foster Care
House Bill 2809 (Rose)‒ (HB02809F.pdf) Requires DFPS to report attempted suicide attempts by youth in the DFPS managing conservatorship‒ Adds suicide attempt to the definition of a “significant change in medical condition”
Fiscal Impact: No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would add the number of children who attempted suicide while in managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services to the yearly report. The bill would also add suicide attempt as a significant change in medical condition.
It is assumed that any costs to the Department of Family and Protective Services could be absorbed within existing resources.
Bill Analysis/Summary. According to the 2022 Report on Suicide and Suicide Prevention by the Statewide Behavioral Health Coordinating Council, the foster youth population in Texas has a higher rate of suicide than the rest of the youth population. The suicide rate for Texas’ foster youth population increased by 335 percent in the five-year period between 2017 through 2021. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a previous suicide attempt is one of the leading risk factors for death by suicide, and yet the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) does not maintain records of suicide attempts by foster youth.
Currently, the annual report produced by DFPS does not include suicide attempts by children in the state’s managing conservatorship and is not required to report attempts to families within a given period. Adding these requirements would improve our understanding of the magnitude of the issue, improve health outcomes, and allow for effective prevention.
H.B. 2809 would require DFPS to include suicide attempts by children in its managing conservatorship in the annual report of child protection statistics and to provide notice to the parent of such a child who attempts suicide within a certain period. The annual report must be publicly accessible and published electronically by December 1st annually. Transparency into suicide attempt data can help the agency and the parents better understand risk factors and prevent any further attempts.
H.B. 2809 amends current law relating to required reporting by the Department of Family and Protective Services regarding youth in the managing conservatorship of the department who attempt suicide.
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
Click HERE to download the full report.