Sec. 531.998. REPORT. (a) The ombudsman shall prepare an annual report that contains:
(1) a description of the ombudsman's work;
(2) any change made by the department or another health and human services agency in response to a substantiated complaint;
(3) a description of any trends in the nature of complaints received by the ombudsman, any recommendations related to addressing those trends, and an evaluation of the feasibility of the ombudsman's recommendations;
(4) a glossary of terms used in the report;
(5) a description of the methods used to promote awareness of the ombudsman under Section 531.993(b) and the ombudsman's promotion plan for the next year; and
(6) any public feedback received by the ombudsman relating to the ombudsman's previous annual reports.
(b) The report must be submitted to the governor, the lieutenant governor, each standing committee of the legislature with jurisdiction over matters involving the department, each member of the legislature, the executive commissioner, and the commissioner of the department not later than December 1 of each year. On receipt of the report, the department and the commission shall make the report publicly available on the department's and the commission's Internet websites.
Amendments to Subsection (b) of this section made by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 906 (S.B. 213), take effect on September 1, 2017, but only if a specific appropriation is provided as described by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 906 (S.B. 213), Sec. 12, which states: This Act takes effect only if a specific appropriation for the implementation of the Act is provided in a general appropriations act of the 85th Legislature.
Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1168 (S.B. 830), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.
Amended by:
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 906 (S.B. 213), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2017.
Structure Texas Statutes
Subtitle I - Health and Human Services
Chapter 531 - Health and Human Services Commission
Subchapter Y. Ombudsman for the Department of Family and Protective Services
Section 531.992. Ombudsman for the Department of Family and Protective Services
Section 531.9921. Conflict of Interest
Section 531.993. Duties of Ombudsman
Section 531.9931. Division of Ombudsman for Children and Youth in Foster Care
Section 531.994. Investigation of Unreported Complaints
Section 531.9941. Disputes Regarding Foster Children
Section 531.995. Access to Information
Section 531.996. Communication and Confidentiality