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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the continuation of the MEDCARES grant program and |
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transfer of the oversight and administration of the program from |
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the Department of State Health Services to the Health and Human |
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Services Commission. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 1001, Health and Safety |
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Code is hereby repealed. |
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SECTION 2. Section 261.005, Family Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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Sec. 261.005. REFERENCE TO EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER OR |
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COMMISSION. Except as provided for in Subchapter G, [I]in this |
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chapter: |
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(1) a reference to the executive commissioner or the |
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executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission |
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means the commissioner of the department; and |
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(2) a reference to the Health and Human Services |
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Commission means the department. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter G, Chapter 261, Family Code, is |
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enacted to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER G. TEXAS MEDICAL CHILD ABUSE RESOURCES AND EDUCATION |
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SYSTEM (MEDCARES) |
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Sec. 261.601. REFERENCE TO EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER OR |
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COMMISSION. In this Subchapter: |
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(1) a reference to the executive commissioner means |
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the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services |
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Commission; and |
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(2) a reference to the commission means the Health and |
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Human Services Commission. |
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Sec. 261.602 TEXAS MEDICAL CHILD ABUSE RESOURCES AND |
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EDUCATION SYSTEM GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall maintain |
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the Texas Medical Child Abuse Resources and Education System |
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(MEDCARES) grant program to award grants for the purpose of |
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developing and supporting regional programs to improve the |
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assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of child abuse and neglect as |
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described by the report submitted to the 80th Legislature by the |
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committee on pediatric centers of excellence relating to abuse and |
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neglect in accordance with Section 266.0031, Family Code, as added |
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by Chapter 1406 (S.B. 758), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2007. |
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(b) The commission may award grants to hospitals or academic |
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health centers with expertise in pediatric health care and a |
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demonstrated commitment to developing basic and advanced programs |
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and centers of excellence for the assessment, diagnosis, and |
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treatment of child abuse and neglect. |
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(c) The department shall encourage collaboration among |
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grant recipients in the development of program services and |
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activities. |
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Sec. 261.602. USE OF GRANT. A grant awarded under this |
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subchapter may be used to support: |
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(1) comprehensive medical evaluations, psychosocial |
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assessments, treatment services, and written and photographic |
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documentation of abuse; |
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(2) education and training for health professionals, |
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including physicians, medical students, resident physicians, child |
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abuse fellows, and nurses, relating to the assessment, diagnosis, |
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and treatment of child abuse and neglect; |
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(3) education and training for community agencies |
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involved with child abuse and neglect, law enforcement officials, |
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child protective services staff, and children's advocacy centers |
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involved with child abuse and neglect; |
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(4) medical case reviews and consultations and |
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testimony regarding those reviews and consultations; |
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(5) research, data collection, and quality assurance |
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activities, including the development of evidence-based guidelines |
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and protocols for the prevention, evaluation, and treatment of |
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child abuse and neglect; |
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(6) the use of telemedicine and other means to extend |
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services from regional programs into underserved areas; and |
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(7) other necessary activities, services, supplies, |
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facilities, and equipment as determined by the department. |
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Sec. 261.603. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The commission may solicit |
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and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or private |
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source for the purposes of this subchapter. |
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Sec. 261.604. REQUIRED REPORT. Not later than December 1 of |
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each even-numbered year, the commission shall submit a report to |
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the governor and the legislature regarding the grant activities of |
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the program and grant recipients, including the results and |
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outcomes of grants provided under this subchapter. |
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Sec. 261.605. RULES. The executive commissioner may adopt |
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rules as necessary to implement this subchapter. |
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Sec. 261.606. APPROPRIATION REQUIRED. The commission is |
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not required to award a grant under this subchapter unless the |
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commission is specifically appropriated money for purposes of this |
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subchapter. |
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SECTION 4. The administration and oversight activities of |
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the MEDCARES grant program is transferred from the Department of |
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State Health Services to the Health and Human Services Commission |
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as of the of the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |