SRC-MKV H.B. 2543 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2543
77R10894 KLA-FBy: Naishtat (Duncan)
Health & Human Services
5/4/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Severe antisocial behavior in children such as frequent fighting, stealing,
and vandalism are the strongest predictors of chronic delinquency. It has
been proposed that early childhood interventions may help prevent chronic
delinquency. Good parenting and nurturing families are essential to
effective interventions in the lives of children with severe behavioral
problems. Today, however, families may face difficult challenges such as
both parents working, the loss of extended family support, marital discord,
and divorce. H.B. 2543 establishes a pilot program to provide integrated
family services for families with young children who exhibit severe
behavioral problems in a child-care environment. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 40C, Human Resources Code, by adding Section
40.071, as follows: 

Sec. 40.071.  CHILD-CARE INTERVENTION PILOT PROGRAM. (a)  Requires the
Texas Department of Human Services (department), subject to available
funding, to develop and implement a pilot program under which the
department awards grants to or contracts with community-based organizations
experienced in parenting skills training to provide child-care intervention
services to certain persons and entities. 
  
 (b)  Requires an organization awarded a grant or with which the department
contracts under the pilot program to carry out certain duties. 
  
 (c)  Requires child-care intervention services provided by an organization
awarded a grant or with which the department contracts under the pilot
program to include 
  certain services.
  
 (d) Requires that not later than December 1, 2002, the department submit
to the legislature a report concerning the effectiveness of the pilot
program. 

  (e)  Provides that this section expires September 1, 2003.
 
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001.