By Turner of Harris                                   H.B. No. 1758
         77R4405 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 and the Texas Youth Commission shall
1-10     periodically review, document, and compare the accessibility of
1-11     facilities, services, and treatment provided to females under 18
1-12     years of age to the accessibility of facilities, services, and
1-13     treatment provided to males in the same age group.
1-14           (b)  The commission shall coordinate the review,
1-15     documentation, and comparison required by Subsection (a).
1-16           (c)  The areas of review required by Subsection (a) must
1-17     include:
1-18                 (1)  the nature, extent, and effectiveness of services
1-19     offered for females under 18 years of age within the areas of teen
1-20     pregnancy, physical and sexual abuse, and alcohol and drug abuse,
1-21     services for runaway and homeless females, and services for females
1-22     involved in gangs or other delinquent activity; and
1-23                 (2)  the equity of services offered to persons under 18
1-24     years of age with respect to gender within the areas of physical
 2-1     and sexual abuse, alcohol and drug abuse, and services offered to
 2-2     runaway and homeless youths.
 2-3           (d)  Each health and human services agency and other state
 2-4     agency that provides facilities, services, and treatment that are
 2-5     subject to the review  required by Subsection (a) shall identify
 2-6     existing disparities within the agency in the allocation and
 2-7     expenditures of money and services for males under 18 years of age
 2-8     in comparison to females in the same age group.  Each agency shall
 2-9     submit a report to the commission describing any disparities
2-10     identified.
2-11           (e)  Each agency described by Subsection (d) shall:
2-12                 (1)  develop a plan to eliminate any disparities
2-13     reported by the agency; and
2-14                 (2)  submit a report to the commission on the progress
2-15     made under the plan.
2-16           (f)  The commission shall assemble the agency reports
2-17     submitted under Subsections (d) and (e) and prepare an executive
2-18     summary to be delivered to the members of the legislature not later
2-19     than July 1 of each even-numbered year.
2-20           (g)  This section expires September 1, 2005.
2-21           SECTION 2. The Health and Human Services Commission and the
2-22     Texas Youth Commission shall jointly establish a timetable for the
2-23     submission of agency reports required by Section 531.016,
2-24     Government Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after
2-25     the effective date of this Act.
2-26           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-27     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
 3-1     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
 3-2     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
 3-3     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.