1-1     By:  West                                              S.B. No. 875
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed February 22, 2001; February 26, 2001,
 1-3     read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human
 1-4     Services; April 3, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote:
 1-5     Yeas 7, Nays 0; April 3, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to participation of fathers in programs and services
 1-9     administered by the Health and Human Services Commission and
1-10     health and human services agencies and functions performed by the
1-11     office of the attorney general.
1-12           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-13           SECTION 1.  Subsection (c), Section 531.022, Government Code,
1-14     is amended to read as follows:
1-15           (c)  The plan must include the following goals:
1-16                 (1)  the development of a comprehensive, statewide
1-17     approach to the planning of health and human services;
1-18                 (2)  the creation of a continuum of care for families
1-19     and individuals in need of health and human services;
1-20                 (3)  the integration of health and human services to
1-21     provide for the efficient and timely delivery of those services;
1-22                 (4)  the maximization of existing resources through
1-23     effective funds management and the sharing of administrative
1-24     functions;
1-25                 (5)  the effective use of management information
1-26     systems to continually improve service delivery;
1-27                 (6)  the provision of systemwide accountability through
1-28     effective monitoring mechanisms;
1-29                 (7)  the promotion of teamwork among the health and
1-30     human services agencies and the provision of incentives for
1-31     creativity; [and]
1-32                 (8)  the fostering of innovation at the local level;
1-33     and
1-34                 (9)  the encouragement of full participation of fathers
1-35     in programs and services relating to children.
1-36           SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
1-37     amended by adding Section 531.055 to read as follows:
1-38           Sec. 531.055.  PARTICIPATION BY FATHERS.  (a)  The commission
1-39     and each health and human services agency shall periodically
1-40     examine commission or agency policies and procedures to determine
1-41     if the policies and procedures deter or encourage participation of
1-42     fathers in commission or agency programs and services relating to
1-43     children.
1-44           (b)  Based on the examination required under Subsection (a),
1-45     the commission and each health and human services agency shall
1-46     modify policies and procedures as necessary to permit full
1-47     participation of fathers in commission or agency programs and
1-48     services relating to children in all appropriate circumstances.
1-49           SECTION 3.  Subchapter B, Chapter 402, Government Code, is
1-50     amended by adding Section 402.030 to read as follows:
1-51           Sec. 402.030.  PARTICIPATION BY FATHERS.  (a)  The attorney
1-52     general shall periodically examine office policies and procedures
1-53     to determine if the policies and procedures deter or encourage
1-54     participation of fathers in functions performed by the attorney
1-55     general relating to children.
1-56           (b)  Based on the examination required under Subsection (a),
1-57     the attorney general shall modify policies and procedures as
1-58     necessary to permit full participation of fathers in functions
1-59     performed by the attorney general relating to children in all
1-60     appropriate circumstances.
1-61           SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
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