Alert to Texas parents – Texas CPS is trying to take away all accountability for their actions.

You’ll remember that TX CPS was responsible for the FLDS debacle, in which all children were taken from their parents even if the parents were not accused of abuse or a crime, siblings were split up, and some women (one was 21) was held in a foster home because she couldn’t prove she wasn’t a minor.

Yesterday, SB 1440 landed on Gov. Perry’s desk.  SB 1440 would allow CPS to skip getting a judge’s signature or having a hearing.  It also allows any judge to order the transportation of a child to another location (i.e., away from home or school) for questioning and examination without prior notice or hearing.

CPS can take your child out of school, or anywhere they are authorized to be, or even from your home without a hearing. They can take your private medical records – and who knows who will have access to them – without notice and without a hearing. They will be able to take your child and examine him without your consent and without a hearing before a judge.

Child abuse examinations are very violating and can be traumatizing for a child – imagine if they have to go through that without their parents or anyone they know!  Imagine someone calls CPS for a spurious reason, and social workers (strangers to your child) swoop in, take him to a strange place, and demand to see his body.

The legislation made sure to specifically exclude the clause, “for good cause shown”, striking it from the text.6  Additionally, SB 1440 allows the agency (CPS) to demand the private medical and psychological records of a child at a moment’s notice, again without a hearing.

Call Gov. Perry and tell him to VETO!  This violates both parent’s and children’s constitutional rights.

Toll free: 1-800-252-9600

Phone: (512) 463-2000

Fax: (512) 463-1849.

Birdie sent me a link to SB 1064, which looks very similar to SB 1440.  That’s because the text of SB 1064 was incorporated into SB 144o on the last day of the session; SB 1440 was not controversial so it was easier to sneak it through.  SB 1440 is the bill that is on Gov. Perry’s desk right now.

When you call the governor’s office, press 2 to speak to an actual person.  You’ll be on hold for a while.  When the secretary answers, politely say you are calling to ask/urge/demand Gov. Perry veto SB 1440.  You don’t have to give a reason, but you can.  You’ll be asked for your name, most likely, and that’s it!

If you can fax, I recommend that.  It has the weight of a letter, and the urgency of a phone call.  But don’t fax if it means you’ll put off protesting, call now!  Do it before the weekend!