SB 513 seeks to establish a Rural Community-Based Care Pilot Program within the Texas Family Code. The initiative addresses persistent gaps in the delivery of child welfare services in rural areas where the state’s existing community-based care (CBC) model has failed to take root due to a lack of provider interest or capacity. The pilot program will be implemented in “eligible rural regions”—specifically defined as areas where at least two-thirds of counties have populations of 50,000 or fewer and where the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) previously received no bids to provide CBC under the existing Subchapter B-1 framework.
The bill directs DFPS to partner with a “lead entity,” which may be either a nonprofit organization with a board composed entirely of local residents or a local governmental body. This lead entity would assume responsibility for coordinating and delivering child welfare services in its designated region. SB 513 outlines several objectives for the pilot program, including increasing community engagement in the child welfare system, expanding access to services, and developing a replicable model that can be scaled to other rural regions.
Ultimately, SB 513 represents a policy innovation designed to tailor child welfare services to the unique needs of rural Texas. By shifting responsibility from centralized state agencies to community-rooted organizations, the bill aims to enhance service quality, accountability, and sustainability in areas that have long been underserved. The pilot’s performance could serve as a template for future expansion and a broader shift toward localized child welfare governance.
The Committee Substitute for SB 513 represents a significant simplification of the originally filed version while preserving its fundamental aim—establishing a rural community-based care pilot program in underserved Texas regions. The original version laid out an expansive, highly structured policy framework encompassing detailed service requirements, a funding formula, stakeholder governance structures, and mechanisms for oversight and evaluation. In contrast, the substitute version reduces the legislative footprint of the bill, focusing on broader objectives and deferring much of the program’s structure to agency discretion and implementation.
One of the most notable changes is the removal of specific implementation details. The original bill included mandates for a capitated funding model, an integrated electronic management system, formal workforce development plans, and independent evaluation procedures. These were designed to ensure rural providers could overcome geographic and operational challenges and to hold the program accountable for outcomes. The substitute omits these elements, instead entrusting DFPS and selected lead entities with greater flexibility to shape the program based on local context.
Furthermore, the Committee Substitute eliminates provisions for conflict resolution processes, formal change order requirements, and the ability to request statutory waivers. It also removes the original sunset provision and legislative review requirement, signaling a possible intention to allow the pilot to evolve without a predetermined end date or formal legislative reassessment. Overall, the Committee Substitute scales back the regulatory architecture of the bill, opting for a more flexible and administratively manageable model, albeit with reduced built-in accountability and fewer statutory safeguards.
Contact the Author
Sen. Kevin Sparks
