By Coleman                                            H.B. No. 2468
       74R5744 MJW-D
                                 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  department.  The department shall appoint to the committee
   1-15  individuals who in the aggregate have knowledge of and experience
   1-16  in community education, cultural relations, family support,
   1-17  counseling, and parenting skills and education.
   1-18        (c)  A committee member serves for a two-year term and may be
   1-19  appointed for additional terms.
   1-20        (d)  A member of the committee receives no compensation but
   1-21  is entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses
   1-22  incurred in performing the member's duties under this section.
   1-23        (e)  The committee shall annually elect one member to serve
   1-24  as presiding officer.
    2-1        (f)  The department shall set the time and place of the first
    2-2  committee meeting.  The committee shall meet at least quarterly.
    2-3        (g)  The department shall pay the expenses of the committee
    2-4  and shall supply necessary personnel and supplies.
    2-5        (h)  To promote the adoption of and provision of services to
    2-6  adoptable African-American children, the committee shall:
    2-7              (1)  study, develop, and evaluate programs and projects
    2-8  relating to community awareness and education, family support,
    2-9  counseling, parenting skills and education, and reform of the child
   2-10  welfare system;
   2-11              (2)  consult with African-American churches and other
   2-12  African-American cultural and civic organizations; and
   2-13              (3)  report to the department at least annually the
   2-14  committee's recommendations for department programs and projects
   2-15  that will promote the adoption of and provision of services to
   2-16  adoptable African-American children.
   2-17        (i)  On receiving the committee's recommendations, the
   2-18  department may adopt rules to implement a program or project
   2-19  recommended under this section.  The department may solicit,
   2-20  accept, and use gifts and donations to implement a program or
   2-21  project recommended by the committee.
   2-22        (j)  The department shall report to the legislature not later
   2-23  than December 1 of each even-numbered year following the first year
   2-24  in which it receives recommendations under this section regarding
   2-25  committee recommendations and action taken by the department under
   2-26  this section.
   2-27        SECTION 2.  The Department of Protective and Regulatory
    3-1  Services shall appoint members to the advisory committee
    3-2  established by this Act not later than January 1, 1996.
    3-3        SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
    3-4        SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
    3-5  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    3-6  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    3-7  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    3-8  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.