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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to training for certain individuals who provide care for |
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or services to children in the conservatorship of the Department of |
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Family and Protective Services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 264.015, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) The department shall, in consultation with foster care |
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alumni, Preparation for Adult Living staff, institutions of higher |
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learning, and current foster youth, foster parents and adoptive |
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parents, adopt or develop a training program for any foster |
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parents, adoptive parents, or kinship caregivers regarding the most |
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effective methods of communicating with children who are or have |
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been in the conservatorship of the department about issues |
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regarding health and well-being, including: |
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(1) self-image; |
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(2) healthy relationships; |
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(3) goal setting; |
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(4) planning and decision making; and |
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(5) protection from sexually transmitted infections, |
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unintended pregnancy, and exploitation. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 264, Family Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 264.0151 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 264.0151. TRAINING MATERIALS FOR GUARDIANS AD LITEM, |
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ATTORNEYS AD LITEM, COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES AND JUDGES. |
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The Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for |
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Children, Youth and Families shall, in consultation with |
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stakeholders including, but not limited to, current guardians ad |
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litem, attorneys ad litem, and court appointed special advocates, |
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develop training materials for guardians ad litem, attorneys ad |
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litem, and judges who represent or preside over cases involving |
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children and youth in the conservatorship of the department |
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concerning the health and well-being of those children and youth, |
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including: |
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(1) policies regarding consent for health care |
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services, including reproductive health care, family planning, and |
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contraceptive care; |
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(2) general health and wellness; |
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(3) healthy relationships; and |
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(4) advocating for or representing pregnant and |
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parenting children and youth. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 40.036 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 40.036. CASEWORKER TRAINING ON HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS. |
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The department, in collaboration with an institute for higher |
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learning, shall create or adopt a required training program for |
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child protective services caseworkers to provide instruction to the |
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caseworkers on developmentally-appropriate, trauma-informed |
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methods of communicating with children in the managing |
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conservatorship of the department regarding reproductive health |
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and healthy relationships. The training must be informed by |
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evidence-based or model curriculum and include content regarding: |
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(1) minor consent to sexual activity, including the |
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legal age for consent under state law; |
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(2) minor consent to health care services including |
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family planning or contraceptive services; |
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(3) preserving confidentiality; and |
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(4) providing services to a child who becomes pregnant |
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or who is a minor parent. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |