1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to a statewide education program to prevent infant
1-3 mortality.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code,
1-6 is amended by renumbering Section 40.0523 as Section 40.0524 and
1-7 adding a new Section 40.0523 to read as follows:
1-8 Sec. 40.0523. INFANT MORTALITY PREVENTION EDUCATION PROGRAM.
1-9 (a) The department and the Children's Trust Fund of Texas Council
1-10 jointly shall develop and implement a statewide education program
1-11 designed to prevent infant mortality. The department and the
1-12 council shall develop and mutually agree to a memorandum of
1-13 understanding to clearly define the responsibilities of the
1-14 department and the council under this section.
1-15 (b) In developing and implementing the program, the
1-16 department and the Children's Trust Fund of Texas Council shall
1-17 request the assistance of individuals, governmental entities,
1-18 private organizations, and other entities with specific knowledge
1-19 of infant mortality prevention.
1-20 (c) The board and the Children's Trust Fund of Texas Council
1-21 shall adopt rules to implement this section.
1-22 Sec. 40.0524 [40.0523]. MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS. (a) To
1-23 the extent possible, the department shall establish
1-24 multidisciplinary teams to provide services relating to a report of
1-25 child abuse or neglect. A multidisciplinary team shall include
2-1 professionals in parent education and in each professional
2-2 discipline necessary to provide comprehensive medical and
2-3 psychological services to a child who is the subject of a report
2-4 and to members of the child's household.
2-5 (b) Members of a multidisciplinary team may exchange
2-6 information relating to a report of child abuse or neglect as
2-7 necessary to facilitate a thorough investigation of the report.
2-8 The department may adopt rules governing the exchange of
2-9 information between team members.
2-10 (c) A multidisciplinary team established under this section
2-11 shall coordinate services provided by the department to a child and
2-12 to members of the child's household with services available from
2-13 other sources, including public and private agencies in the
2-14 community. The goal of the multidisciplinary team is to provide
2-15 the greatest range of services possible without duplication of
2-16 effort.
2-17 (d) The department shall establish a process by which
2-18 members of a multidisciplinary team are involved in the
2-19 department's development and implementation of procedures relating
2-20 to coordination of the department's child abuse or neglect services
2-21 with services provided by other public and private agencies.
2-22 SECTION 2. Subsection (a), Section 40.061, Human Resources
2-23 Code, is amended to read as follows:
2-24 (a) A department employee, a member of a multidisciplinary
2-25 team established under Section 40.0524 [40.0523], or an authorized
2-26 department volunteer who performs a departmental duty or
3-1 responsibility is immune from civil or criminal liability for any
3-2 act or omission that relates to the duty or responsibility if the
3-3 person acted in good faith and within the scope of the person's
3-4 authority.
3-5 SECTION 3. Subsection (c), Section 74.006, Human Resources
3-6 Code, is amended to read as follows:
3-7 (c) The council may transfer money contained in the trust
3-8 fund to the operating fund at any time. However, during a fiscal
3-9 year the council may not transfer more than the amount deposited to
3-10 the credit of the fund from any source, including interest and the
3-11 amount credited under Section 118.022, Local Government Code,
3-12 during the preceding fiscal year. Money transferred to the
3-13 operating fund that was originally deposited to the credit of the
3-14 trust fund under Section 118.022, Local Government Code, may be
3-15 used only for an infant mortality prevention education program
3-16 developed and implemented under Section 40.0523 and child abuse and
3-17 neglect prevention programs. The council may also transfer funds
3-18 contained in the operating fund to the trust fund at any time.
3-19 SECTION 4. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
3-20 (b) The Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory
3-21 Services and the Children's Trust Fund of Texas Council shall
3-22 implement the statewide education program to prevent infant
3-23 mortality on or before June 1, 2002.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 55 passed the Senate on
March 28, 2001, by a viva-voce vote.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 55 passed the House on
May 5, 2001, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
_______________________________
Date
_______________________________
Governor