Senate panel proposes $75.3 million to start fixing foster care system

A Texas legislative panel is recommending $75.3 million in emergency funding for the Department of Family and Protective Services to start fixing the state's dysfunctional foster care system, but agency Commissioner Hank Whitman won't get everything he requested.

The five-member special workgroup made up of Senate Finance Committee members has decided to recommend giving Whitman the money he asked for to increase salaries for Child Protective Services workers, but not enough to hire 550 new workers as he originally hoped. The funding would include $67.6 million in state general funds, while the rest would be federal money.

The panel's plan would allow the agency to boost salaries by $12,000 and hire 136 new workers, including 50 new special investigators, 50 new investigative caseworkers and 36 new support staff members. Whitman had originally wanted to hire an additional 200 investigative caseworkers and an additional 100 special investigators.

The workgroup's report now goes to the Legislative Budget Board. The 10-member panel could go along with the recommendations or come up with its own plan. No date has been set to act.

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2016/11/07/senate-recommends-676-million-emergency-funds-chil/