By Turner of Harris, Naishtat                         H.B. No. 1758
         77R11264 SGA-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to access for females under 18 years of age to facilities,
 1-3     services, and treatment available through health and human services
 1-4     and juvenile corrections programs.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
 1-7     amended by adding Section 531.016 to read as follows:
 1-8           Sec. 531.016.  EQUAL ACCESS TO FACILITIES, SERVICES, AND
 1-9     TREATMENT. (a)  The commission, the Texas Youth Commission, and the
1-10     Texas Juvenile Probation Commission shall periodically review,
1-11     document, and compare the accessibility and funding of facilities,
1-12     services, and treatment provided to females under 18 years of age
1-13     to the accessibility and funding of facilities, services, and
1-14     treatment provided to males in the same age group.
1-15           (b)  The commission shall coordinate the review,
1-16     documentation, and comparison required by Subsection (a).
1-17           (c)  The areas of review required by Subsection (a) must
1-18     include:
1-19                 (1)  the nature, extent, and effectiveness of services
1-20     offered for females under 18 years of age within the areas of teen
1-21     pregnancy, physical and sexual abuse, and alcohol and drug abuse,
1-22     services for runaway and homeless females, and services for females
1-23     involved in gangs or other delinquent activity; and
1-24                 (2)  the equity of services offered to persons under 18
 2-1     years of age with respect to gender within the areas of physical
 2-2     and sexual abuse, alcohol and drug abuse, and services offered to
 2-3     runaway and homeless youths.
 2-4           (d)  Each health and human services agency or other state
 2-5     agency that provides facilities, services, treatment, or funding
 2-6     subject to the review  required by Subsection (a) shall identify
 2-7     existing differences within the agency in the allocation and
 2-8     expenditures of money and services for males under 18 years of age
 2-9     in comparison to females in the same age group.  Each agency shall
2-10     submit a report to the commission describing any differences
2-11     identified.
2-12           (e)  Each agency described by Subsection (d) shall:
2-13                 (1)  develop a plan to address any lack of services for
2-14     females under 18 years of age reported by the agency; and
2-15                 (2)  submit a report to the commission on the progress
2-16     made under the plan.
2-17           (f)  The commission shall assemble the agency reports
2-18     submitted under Subsections (d) and (e) and prepare an executive
2-19     summary to be delivered to the members of the legislature not later
2-20     than July 1 of each even-numbered year.
2-21           (g)  This section expires September 1, 2005.
2-22           SECTION 2. The Health and Human Services Commission, the
2-23     Texas Youth Commission, and the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission
2-24     shall jointly establish a timetable for the submission of agency
2-25     reports required by Section 531.016, Government Code, as added by
2-26     this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this
2-27     Act.
 3-1           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
 3-2     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
 3-3     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
 3-4     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
 3-5     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.