SRC-DPW S.B. 1574 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1574
By: West
Human Services
3/29/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, over 1.3 million Texas youths are estimated to be at increased
risk of delinquent activities due to the effects of poverty, prenatal
substance abuse, child abuse and neglect, or parents ill-equipped for the
responsibilities of raising a child.  Current prevention and intervention
efforts are often narrowly focused on specific risk factors and fragmented
among several different agencies.  This bill sets forth guidelines for the
consolidation and administration of certain programs for at-risk children
and their families. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1574 sets forth guidelines for the consolidation and
administration of certain programs for at-risk children and their families. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 40.002(b), Human Resources Code, to provide that
the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (DPRS) has primary
responsibility for implementing and managing programs intended to prevent
at-risk behaviors that lead to child abuse, delinquency, running away,
truancy, and dropping out of school (childhood problems). 

SECTION 2. Amends Title 5E, Family Code, by adding Chapter 265, as follows:

CHAPTER 265. PREVENTION SERVICES

SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 265.001. DEFINITIONS. Defines "department," "division," and
"prevention services." 

Sec. 265.002. PREVENTION SERVICES DIVISION. Requires DPRS to operate a
division to provide services for children and families of children in
at-risk situations and to consolidate prevention services within the
jurisdiction of a single agency to duplication of services and increase
accountability in the delivery of services.  Requires the division of the
DPRS to be named preventative services division (PSD) and requires PSD to
perform certain duties.  

Sec. 265.003. CONSOLIDATION OF PROGRAMS. Requires DPRS to consolidate into
PSD programs aimed at preventing at-risk behavior that leads to childhood
problems.  Authorizes PSD to provide additional prevention services. 

SECTION 3. Provides that certain programs are transferred from certain
agencies to DPRS to be administered by PSD on the effective date of this
Act.  Provides that all elements of an agency listed in Subsection (a) are
transferred to DPRS on September 1, 1999.  Provides that employees of the
services for at-risk youth program and the community youth development
grant program are transferred to PSD. Provides that the number of employees
transferred to DPRS is not included in determining DPRS compliance with
limitations on the number of full-time equivalent positions for the 1999
and 2000 state fiscal years.  Provides that references to transferred
agencies or executive officers listed in Subsection (a) mean DPRS or the
executive director of DPRS.  Provides that rules of agencies listed in
Subsection  (a) remain in effect until such rules are superseded by rules
of DPRS.  Provides that associated power from the transfer of powers does
not affect any act done under former law.  Provides that an action brought
before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law applicable to
the action immediately before the effective date of this Act.  

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 5. Emergency clause.