TX SB513

Establishes a rural community-based care pilot program for child welfare services in catchment areas where at least two-thirds of counties have populations of 50,000 or less and where no bids were received for the standard community-based care program

Requires lead entities to be either nonprofit organizations with boards composed entirely of local residents or local government entities, selected based on community support, collaborative experience, and capacity to coordinate with local organizations

Pilot program must address family-based safety services, family preservation, case management, foster and kinship care, adoption services, transition services for youth aging out of foster care, and coordination with faith-based organizations and mental health authorities

Funding model must account for rural-specific costs including increased transportation, staff recruitment/retention challenges, and difficulties achieving economies of scale, with financial risk-sharing mechanisms and allowance for reinvestment of savings

Department must submit a program development report to the legislature by January 1, 2027, with annual implementation reports beginning December 1, 2028; the legislature must review program outcomes by September 1, 2031, when the subchapter expires