By: Hightower H.B. No. 420
73R2544 JMM-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the creation of the Texas Commission on Children.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 3, Human Resources Code, is
1-5 amended by adding Chapter 71 to read as follows:
1-6 CHAPTER 71. TEXAS COMMISSION ON CHILDREN
1-7 Sec. 71.001. CREATION. The Texas Commission on Children is
1-8 created.
1-9 Sec. 71.002. COMPOSITION. (a) The commission is composed
1-10 of 18 members, six of whom are appointed by the governor, six of
1-11 whom are appointed by the lieutenant governor, and six of whom are
1-12 appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. Not
1-13 fewer than three of the members appointed by the lieutenant
1-14 governor shall be members of the senate and not fewer than three of
1-15 the members appointed by the speaker of the house of
1-16 representatives shall be members of the house of representatives.
1-17 (b) In making appointments under this section, the governor
1-18 shall attempt to ensure participation on the commission by women
1-19 and minorities, including African Americans, Hispanic Americans,
1-20 Native Americans, and Asian Americans.
1-21 (c) Each appointed member of the commission serves at the
1-22 pleasure of the official by whom the member is appointed.
1-23 (d) The governor shall designate one member to serve as
1-24 chairman and one member to serve as vice-chairman.
2-1 (e) The commission shall include as ex officio members the
2-2 executive director or commissioner of:
2-3 (1) the Central Education Agency;
2-4 (2) the Texas Youth Commission;
2-5 (3) the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission;
2-6 (4) the Department of Protective and Regulatory
2-7 Services;
2-8 (5) the Texas Department of Health;
2-9 (6) the Texas Department of Human Services;
2-10 (7) the Children's Trust Fund of Texas Council; and
2-11 (8) any other state agency that the governor
2-12 identifies as an agency that serves children.
2-13 Sec. 71.003. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The commission shall
2-14 develop a comprehensive proposal to improve and coordinate public
2-15 programs for children and to achieve the goals listed in this
2-16 section for education, health care, juvenile justice, and family
2-17 services.
2-18 (b) In education, the commission's goals are to:
2-19 (1) reduce the rate of school dropouts;
2-20 (2) increase parental involvement and accountability;
2-21 (3) review disciplinary procedures; and
2-22 (4) ensure that all children are prepared to enter the
2-23 work force on graduation.
2-24 (c) In health care, the commission's goal is to increase
2-25 access for all children to basic health care, including preventive
2-26 care, prenatal care, immunization, and mental health services.
2-27 (d) In juvenile justice, the commission's goals are to:
3-1 (1) improve services for predelinquent children and
3-2 children at risk of becoming delinquent or in need of supervision;
3-3 (2) provide effective supervision and treatment for
3-4 children on probation; and
3-5 (3) establish a mechanism for cooperation among
3-6 agencies that deal with juvenile crime.
3-7 (e) In family services, the commission's goals are to:
3-8 (1) improve prevention, detection, and treatment of
3-9 the abuse or neglect of children;
3-10 (2) review the rules governing foster care for
3-11 children; and
3-12 (3) recommend ways to provide child care for all
3-13 children of working parents.
3-14 (f) The commission shall organize community-based
3-15 commissions throughout the state to promote cooperation between
3-16 government and private interests in meeting the needs of children,
3-17 encouraging the involvement of parents and volunteers, and
3-18 developing local solutions to the problems of children.
3-19 Sec. 71.004. REIMBURSEMENT. A member of the commission is
3-20 not entitled to compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for
3-21 actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing their official
3-22 duties.
3-23 Sec. 71.005. STAFF; CONTRACTS. (a) The commission may
3-24 hire staff as needed for research and other support services.
3-25 (b) The commission may contract with agencies of the state
3-26 or private contractors for research and other support services.
3-27 Sec. 71.006. SUBMISSION. The commission shall submit the
4-1 commission's proposals described by Section 71.003 to the governor,
4-2 the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
4-3 representatives not later than December 1, 1994.
4-4 Sec. 71.007. COMMISSION ABOLISHED; EXPIRATION OF CHAPTER.
4-5 (a) The commission is abolished on September 1, 1995.
4-6 (b) This chapter expires on September 1, 1995.
4-7 SECTION 2. The governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of
4-8 the house of representatives shall make their appointments to the
4-9 Texas Commission on Children not later than the 31st day after the
4-10 effective date of this Act.
4-11 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
4-12 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-13 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-14 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-15 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
4-16 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
4-17 passage, and it is so enacted.