SRC-TNM S.C.R. 53 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.C.R. 53 By: Ellis Administration 4-18-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, of the 15,000 children receiving services from the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation and who were diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity, 20 percent had been involved with Child Protective Services, 15 percent had been involved with the Juvenile Court and/or the Texas Youth Commission, and almost half were either placed away from home or were at risk for out-of-home treatment. The costs to the state for serving one out of nine children in special education, the mental health system, and in the juvenile justice system are significant. S.C.R. 53 would create a joint interim committee composed of state agencies, legislative members, and private citizens to study and report on new advancements in treating learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders, and their implications for public policy in the care, education, control, and protection of children. PURPOSE As proposed, S.C.R. 53 submits the following resolutions: To create a joint interim committee (committee) to study and report on recent findings concerning the development and functioning of the human brain, human behavior and learning styles and their implications for public policies concerning the care, education, control and protection of the state's workforce. Provides that the committee be composed of private citizens knowledgeable about recent findings concerning research on the development and functioning of the human brain, human behavior and learning styles and persons who are generally knowledgeable about public policies concerning the care, education, control and protection of children, and especially those children with disabilities or disorders, or who are victims of abuse or neglect. Provides that the Texas Youth Commission, Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, Texas Education Agency, Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Texas Juvenile Probation Commission, Criminal Justice Policy Council, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas Council on Workforce and Economic Competitiveness, Office of the Governor, and Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, each appoint one staff member to the committee. Provides that staffing support be developed within existing agency resources, and that the Texas Council on Workforce and Economic Competitiveness provide administrative support. Provides that the committee be charged with identifying key findings of research concerning the development and functioning of the human brain, human behavior and learning styles that could impact public policies concerning the care, education, control and protection of children and the education and training of the state's workforce, and developing recommendations to the 76th Legislature concerning such policies. Provides that the committee's proceedings and operations be governed by such general rules and policies for joint interim committees as the 75th Legislature may adopt and that such rules and policies supersede the provisions of this resolution to the extent of any conflict. Provides that the committee submit a full report, including findings and recommendations, to the Texas Legislature not later than December 12, 1998.