1. (a) The commission shall establish an ombudsman program to provide support and information services to children and youth in foster care.

2. (b) An ombudsman appointed under this section shall:

   1. (1) receive complaints from children and youth in the conservatorship of the department as provided under Section 523.0356(b)(1)(A)(i);
   2. (2) inform children and youth in the conservatorship of the department who file a complaint under this subchapter about the result of an ombudsman's investigation of the complaint, including whether the ombudsman was able to substantiate the child's or youth's complaint; and

   3. (3) collaborate with the department to develop an outreach plan for children and youth in the conservatorship of the department to promote awareness of the ombudsman program.

      Transferred, redesignated and amended from Government Code, Subchapter Y, Chapter 531 by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 204 (H.B. 1620), Sec. 8.019(a), eff. September 1, 2025.

Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 906 (S.B. 213), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2017.

Reenacted and amended by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 741 (H.B. 3462), Sec. 9, eff. June 12, 2023.