1-1     By:  Zaffirini, Lucio                                   S.B. No. 55
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed November 13, 2000; January 10, 2001,
 1-3     read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human
 1-4     Services; March 5, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote:
 1-5     Yeas 7, Nays 0; March 5, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to a statewide education program to prevent infant
 1-9     mortality.
1-10           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11           SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code,
1-12     is amended by renumbering Section 40.0523 as Section 40.0524 and
1-13     adding a new Section 40.0523 to read as follows:
1-14           Sec. 40.0523.  INFANT MORTALITY PREVENTION EDUCATION PROGRAM.
1-15     (a)  The department and the Children's Trust Fund of Texas Council
1-16     jointly shall develop and implement a statewide education program
1-17     designed to prevent infant mortality.  The department and the
1-18     council shall develop and mutually agree to a memorandum of
1-19     understanding to clearly define the responsibilities of the
1-20     department and the council under this section.
1-21           (b)  In developing and implementing the program, the
1-22     department and the Children's Trust Fund of Texas Council shall
1-23     request the assistance of individuals, governmental entities,
1-24     private organizations, and other entities with specific knowledge
1-25     of infant mortality prevention.
1-26           (c)  The board and the Children's Trust Fund of Texas Council
1-27     shall adopt rules to implement this section.
1-28           Sec. 40.0524 [40.0523].  MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS.  (a)  To
1-29     the extent possible, the department shall establish
1-30     multidisciplinary teams to provide services relating to a report of
1-31     child abuse or neglect.  A multidisciplinary team shall include
1-32     professionals in parent education and in each professional
1-33     discipline necessary to provide comprehensive medical and
1-34     psychological services to a child who is the subject of a report
1-35     and to members of the child's household.
1-36           (b)  Members of a multidisciplinary team may exchange
1-37     information relating to a report of child abuse or neglect as
1-38     necessary to facilitate a thorough investigation of the report.
1-39     The department may adopt rules governing the exchange of
1-40     information between team members.
1-41           (c)  A multidisciplinary team established under this section
1-42     shall coordinate services provided by the department to a child and
1-43     to members of the child's household with services available from
1-44     other sources, including public and private agencies in the
1-45     community.  The goal of the multidisciplinary team is to provide
1-46     the greatest range of services possible without duplication of
1-47     effort.
1-48           (d)  The department shall establish a process by which
1-49     members of a multidisciplinary team are involved in the
1-50     department's development and implementation of procedures relating
1-51     to coordination of the department's child abuse or neglect services
1-52     with services provided by other public and private agencies.
1-53           SECTION 2.  Subsection (a), Section 40.061, Human Resources
1-54     Code, is amended to read as follows:
1-55           (a)  A department employee, a member of a multidisciplinary
1-56     team established under Section 40.0524 [40.0523], or an authorized
1-57     department volunteer who performs a departmental duty or
1-58     responsibility is immune from civil or criminal liability for any
1-59     act or omission that relates to the duty or responsibility if the
1-60     person acted in good faith and within the scope of the person's
1-61     authority.
1-62           SECTION 3.  Subsection (c), Section 74.006, Human Resources
1-63     Code, is amended to read as follows:
1-64           (c)  The council may transfer money contained in the trust
 2-1     fund to the operating fund at any time.  However, during a fiscal
 2-2     year the council may not transfer more than the amount deposited to
 2-3     the credit of the fund from any source, including interest and the
 2-4     amount credited under Section 118.022, Local Government Code,
 2-5     during the preceding fiscal year.  Money transferred to the
 2-6     operating fund that was originally deposited to the credit of the
 2-7     trust fund under Section 118.022, Local Government Code, may be
 2-8     used only for an infant mortality prevention education program
 2-9     developed and implemented under Section 40.0523 and child abuse and
2-10     neglect prevention programs.  The council may also transfer funds
2-11     contained in the operating fund to the trust fund at any time.
2-12           SECTION 4.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
2-13           (b)  The Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory
2-14     Services and the Children's Trust Fund of Texas Council shall
2-15     implement the statewide education program to prevent infant
2-16     mortality on or before June 1, 2002.
2-17                                  * * * * *