TITLE 40. SOCIAL SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE

PART 19. DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES

CHAPTER 702. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

SUBCHAPTER F. ADVISORY COMMITTEES

The Department and Family Protective Services (DFPS) adopts new §702.506 in Title 40, Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Part 19, Chapter 702, Subchapter F, ADVISORY COMMITTEES, related to the newly established Child Protective Investigations (CPI) Advisory Committee. The proposal was published in the February 13, 2026, issue of the Texas Register (51 TexReg 870). The new rule is adopted without changes to the proposed text and will not be republished.

BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION

House Bill (H.B.) 140, 89th Texas Legislature (Regular Session, 2025), abolished the Texas Family and Protective Services Council effective September 1, 2026, and established the Child Protective Investigations Advisory Committee (CPI Advisory Committee). As a state advisory committee, DFPS is required to adopt rules in accordance with Texas Government Code Chapter 2110, including rules that define the committee's purpose and tasks, describe how the committee will report to the agency, and specify the committee's duration (unless a specific duration is prescribed by statute).

COMMENTS

The 30-day comment period ended March 15, 2026. During this period, DFPS did not receive any comments regarding the new rule.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

The new rule is adopted under Texas Human Resources Code §40.031, as enacted by H.B. 140, 89th Legislature (Regular Session, 2025) which requires DFPS to establish the Child Protective Investigations Advisory Committee. Government Code Chapter 2110 requires rules for state agency advisory committees. The rule is also adopted under Texas Human Resources Code §40.021 which provides that the Department of Family and Protective Services Commissioner shall oversee the development of rules relating to matters within the department's jurisdiction and notwithstanding any other law, shall adopt rules for the operation and provision of services by the department.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on March 16, 2026.

TRD-202601257

Sanjuanita Maltos

Rules Coordinator

Department of Family and Protective Services

Effective date: April 5, 2026

Proposal publication date: February 13, 2026

For further information, please call: (512) 945-5978