TX SB2534

Religious organizations may establish and operate faith-based child-care facilities that provide 24-hour care for foster youth in state conservatorship, with requirements to develop comprehensive care plans, staff training programs, and contracts with licensed mental health providers

Each facility must be overseen by a committee that includes a religious leader, two congregation members, a licensed mental health professional, a child welfare expert, and a local elected official

Facilities must establish "faith-family programs" that pair foster youth with congregation members as mentors, who may host children in their homes and are encouraged to become foster or adoptive parents

Faith-based child-care facilities are explicitly exempt from state licensing requirements and rules that apply to licensed child-care facilities, though the department must adopt minimum standards for fire safety and basic cleanliness

The department shall establish a grant program using available funds or private donations to help religious organizations establish these facilities and must integrate them into the state foster care system for child placements