By: Turner S.B. No. 155 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.