74R8950 MJW-D
By Coleman H.B. No. 2468
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2468:
By Maxey C.S.H.B. No. 2468
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the creation of an advisory committee for the
1-3 Department of Protective and Regulatory Services on programs for
1-4 promoting the adoption of and provision of services to adoptable
1-5 African-American children.
1-6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-7 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 47, Human Resources Code,
1-8 is amended by adding Section 47.006 to read as follows:
1-9 Sec. 47.006. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON PROMOTING ADOPTION OF
1-10 ADOPTABLE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHILDREN. (a) An advisory committee on
1-11 promoting the adoption of and provision of services to adoptable
1-12 African-American children is established within the department.
1-13 (b) The committee is composed of 12 members appointed by the
1-14 board of the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services. The
1-15 board shall appoint to the committee individuals who in the
1-16 aggregate have knowledge of and experience in community education,
1-17 cultural relations, family support, counseling, and parenting
1-18 skills and education. At least six members must be ordained
1-19 members of the clergy.
1-20 (c) A committee member serves for a two-year term and may be
1-21 appointed for additional terms.
1-22 (d) A member of the committee receives no compensation but
1-23 is entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses
1-24 incurred in performing the member's duties under this section.
2-1 (e) The committee shall elect one member to serve as
2-2 presiding officer. The presiding officer serves for a two-year
2-3 term and may be elected for additional terms.
2-4 (f) The department shall set the time and place of the first
2-5 committee meeting. The committee shall meet at least quarterly.
2-6 (g) The department shall pay the expenses of the committee
2-7 and shall supply necessary personnel and supplies.
2-8 (h) To promote the adoption of and provision of services to
2-9 adoptable African-American children, the committee shall:
2-10 (1) study, develop, and evaluate programs and projects
2-11 relating to community awareness and education, family support,
2-12 counseling, parenting skills and education, and reform of the child
2-13 welfare system;
2-14 (2) consult with African-American churches and other
2-15 African-American cultural and civic organizations; and
2-16 (3) report to the department at least annually the
2-17 committee's recommendations for department programs and projects
2-18 that will promote the adoption of and provision of services to
2-19 adoptable African-American children.
2-20 (i) On receiving the committee's recommendations, the
2-21 department may adopt rules to implement a program or project
2-22 recommended under this section. The department may solicit,
2-23 accept, and use gifts and donations to implement a program or
2-24 project recommended by the committee.
2-25 (j) The department shall report to the legislature not later
2-26 than November 1 of each even-numbered year following the first year
2-27 in which it receives recommendations under this section regarding
3-1 committee recommendations and action taken by the department under
3-2 this section.
3-3 SECTION 2. The Department of Protective and Regulatory
3-4 Services shall appoint members to the advisory committee
3-5 established by this Act not later than January 1, 1996.
3-6 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
3-7 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
3-8 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-9 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-10 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-11 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.