1-1  By:  Coleman (Senate Sponsor - Ellis)                 H.B. No. 2468
    1-2        (In the Senate - Received from the House May 4, 1995;
    1-3  May 5, 1995, read first time and referred to Committee on Health
    1-4  and Human Services; May 25, 1995, reported adversely, with
    1-5  favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 5, Nays
    1-6  0; May 25, 1995, sent to printer.)
    1-7  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 2468                   By:  Madla
    1-8                         A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-9                                AN ACT
   1-10  relating to the creation of an advisory committee for the
   1-11  Department of Protective and Regulatory Services on programs for
   1-12  promoting the adoption of and provision of services to minority
   1-13  children.
   1-14        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
   1-15        SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 47, Human Resources Code,
   1-16  is amended by adding Section 47.006 to read as follows:
   1-17        Sec. 47.006.  ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON PROMOTING ADOPTION OF
   1-18  MINORITY CHILDREN.  (a)  An advisory committee on promoting the
   1-19  adoption of and provision of services to minority children is
   1-20  established within the department.
   1-21        (b)  The committee is composed of 12 members appointed by the
   1-22  board of the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services.  The
   1-23  board shall appoint to the committee individuals who in the
   1-24  aggregate have knowledge of and experience in community education,
   1-25  cultural relations, family support, counseling, and parenting
   1-26  skills and education.  At least six members must be ordained
   1-27  members of the clergy.
   1-28        (c)  A committee member serves for a two-year term and may be
   1-29  appointed for additional terms.
   1-30        (d)  A member of the committee receives no compensation but
   1-31  is entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses
   1-32  incurred in performing the member's duties under this section.
   1-33        (e)  The committee shall elect one member to serve as
   1-34  presiding officer.  The presiding officer serves for a two-year
   1-35  term and may be elected for additional terms.
   1-36        (f)  The department shall set the time and place of the first
   1-37  committee meeting.  The committee shall meet at least quarterly.
   1-38        (g)  The department shall pay the expenses of the committee
   1-39  and shall supply necessary personnel and supplies.
   1-40        (h)  To promote the adoption of and provision of services to
   1-41  minority children, the committee shall:
   1-42              (1)  study, develop, and evaluate programs and projects
   1-43  relating to community awareness and education, family support,
   1-44  counseling, parenting skills and education, and reform of the child
   1-45  welfare system;
   1-46              (2)  consult with churches and other cultural and civic
   1-47  organizations; and
   1-48              (3)  report to the department at least annually the
   1-49  committee's recommendations for department programs and projects
   1-50  that will promote the adoption of and provision of services to
   1-51  minority children.
   1-52        (i)  On receiving the committee's recommendations, the
   1-53  department may adopt rules to implement a program or project
   1-54  recommended under this section.  The department may solicit,
   1-55  accept, and use gifts and donations to implement a program or
   1-56  project recommended by the committee.
   1-57        (j)  The department shall report to the legislature not later
   1-58  than November 1 of each even-numbered year following the first year
   1-59  in which it receives recommendations under this section regarding
   1-60  committee recommendations and action taken by the department under
   1-61  this section.
   1-62        (k)  The recruitment of minority families may not be a reason
   1-63  to delay placement of a child with an available family of a race or
   1-64  ethnicity different from that of the child.
   1-65        SECTION 2.  The Department of Protective and Regulatory
   1-66  Services shall appoint members to the advisory committee
   1-67  established by this Act not later than January 1, 1996.
   1-68        SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
    2-1        SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-2  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-3  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-4  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-5  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
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