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.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1758 was passed by the House on April
20, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 0, 2 present, not
voting.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1758 was passed by the Senate on May
22, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________________
Date
__________________________
Governor