SECTION 749.585. How long must I maintain client records?

(a) For children placed in adoption, you must maintain complete child, birth parent, and adoptive family records permanently or transfer them, as appropriate, to the Bureau of Vital Statistics.

(b) You must maintain a foster child's complete record from admittance to discharge for two years from the date of discharge, or until the resolution of any investigation involving the child, whichever is longer.

(c) You must maintain records for verified foster homes for at least five years after the foster home is closed. This includes foster homes that did not receive placements.

(d) You must maintain records for approved adoptive applicants with whom you did not place a child for at least five years after the family withdraws or you close consideration of the family for a placement.

(e) You must maintain records for applicants for foster or adoptive homes whom you did not verify or approve for at least one year after denial of the application.

(f) You do not have to maintain records of foster or adoptive home applicants who drop out before the completion of a home screening.

Source Note: The provisions of this §749.585 adopted to be effective January 1, 2007, 31 TexReg 7469; amended to be effective September 1, 2010, 35 TexReg 7522; amended to be effective January 1, 2017, TexReg 9944; transferred effective March 9, 2018, as published in the Texas Register February 16, 2018, 43 TexReg 909