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 * * * * *