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Amend CSSB 6 by adding the following appropriately numbered
SECTION to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill
appropriately:
SECTION _. Subtitle E, Title 5, Family Code, is amended by
adding Chapter 267 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 267. CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION PILOT PROJECT
AND TASK FORCE
Sec. 267.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "department"
means the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Sec. 267.002. ESTABLISHMENT OF CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION PILOT
PROJECT. The department, in consultation with the child abuse
prevention services task force established under Section 267.006,
shall establish the child abuse prevention pilot project under this
chapter to reduce the increasing incidences and financial and
emotional costs of child abuse and neglect in this state by:
(1) developing intervention programs in different
geographic regions of this state; and
(2) evaluating the success of those programs.
Sec. 267.003. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH INSTITUTION
OF HIGHER EDUCATION. The department shall enter into a memorandum
of understanding with an institution of higher education in this
state to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the pilot
project. The memorandum of understanding must require the
institution to:
(1) track the number of abuse allegations, confirmed
victims, and child deaths in the communities served by the pilot
project programs before, during, and after the implementation of
the pilot project programs; and
(2) report to the department and the child abuse
prevention services task force established under Section 267.006
regarding the results of the pilot project programs every six
months following the date on which the pilot project programs are
implemented or at any other time required by the task force.
Sec. 267.004. PILOT PROJECT PROGRAM LOCATIONS. (a) The
department shall establish programs under the pilot project in four
locations. Two of the locations must be urban areas and two of the
locations must be rural areas.
(b) Within each location, the department shall:
(1) engage and build trust with the communities in
which programs are established using a locality development
approach; and
(2) gather community-specific data on gaps and
overlaps in services currently offered in the location.
Sec. 267.005. PILOT PROJECT INTERVENTION PROGRAMS. (a)
The pilot project programs shall use intervention methods that in
studies conducted in this state or nationwide have been shown to be
the most effective in reducing child abuse and neglect.
(b) The intervention methods used in the pilot project
programs may include methods that have been shown to be successful
at:
(1) detecting risks of child abuse;
(2) decreasing:
(A) child maltreatment;
(B) child sexual abuse;
(C) substance abuse by parents;
(D) domestic violence;
(E) subsequent pregnancies;
(F) parental depression and stress; and
(G) reliance on public assistance;
(3) enhancing parenting skills; and
(4) increasing the cognitive development of children.
(c) One of the pilot project programs must be a voluntary
in-home visitation program that incorporates the following best
practices components:
(1) comprehensive multiple interventions addressing
behavior in multiple settings, including school, home, and
community;
(2) varied teaching methods involving interactive and
hands-on experiences;
(3) sufficient intervention to prevent the
dissipation of its effects over time;
(4) a theory-driven and scientific justification for
interventions;
(5) positive relationships developed between the
participants and the providers;
(6) prevention measures designed to target the
community and tailored to the community's needs;
(7) clear and realistic goals and documented results;
(8) professional and well-trained staff;
(9) a focus on both the child and the parent; and
(10) links to quality child care and other services.
(d) One of the pilot project programs must be a parent
support group, a crisis nursery, or another intervention program
that the task force established under Section 267.006 determines to
have shown the most promise and potential for cost-effectiveness.
Sec. 267.006. CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION SERVICES TASK FORCE.
(a) In this section, "task force" means the child abuse prevention
services task force established under this section.
(b) The child abuse prevention services task force shall
create a strategic plan to improve the availability of child abuse
prevention services in this state and to advise the department on
the implementation of the child abuse prevention pilot project.
(c) The task force is composed of an odd number of members
jointly nominated by the presiding officer of each house of
representatives and senate standing committee having jurisdiction
over family protective services and approved by the governor.
(d) Each member of the task force must have demonstrated
experience regarding the prevention of child abuse or neglect.
(e) Membership on the task force must include:
(1) two researchers from nationally or
state-recognized child abuse prevention programs at institutions
of higher education;
(2) two researchers from nationally or
state-recognized health care programs at institutions of higher
education;
(3) two representatives of child advocacy
organizations in this state;
(4) two members of the legislature; and
(5) two providers of recognized child abuse and
neglect prevention programs.
(f) The task force shall:
(1) examine the provision of child abuse prevention
services in this state and identify opportunities to coordinate and
consolidate the delivery of those services;
(2) identify federal, state, and community sources of
funding for child abuse prevention services;
(3) create a strategic plan that would result in the
extension of child abuse prevention services to more at-risk
families in this state; and
(4) regarding the pilot project established under this
chapter, advise the department on the:
(A) locations for the pilot project programs;
(B) intervention models to be used in the pilot
project programs;
(C) development of the request for proposal
process to be used for participation in the pilot project;
(D) selection of an institution of higher
education to measure the outcomes of the pilot project programs;
and
(E) expansion of or a change in a particular
intervention method used under a pilot project program.
(g) The department shall provide administrative support and
services to the task force.
(h) Not later than September 1, 2006, the task force shall
present to the department the strategic plan created under
Subsection (f)(3).
Sec. 267.007. REPORT ON STRATEGIC PLAN BY DEPARTMENT. (a)
Not later than the 90th day after the date on which the task force
presents to the department its strategic plan under Section
267.006(h), the department shall submit to the governor, the
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
and the presiding officer of each house of representatives and
senate standing committee having jurisdiction over family
protective services a written report concerning the strategic plan
of the task force. The report must include recommendations for:
(1) implementing the strategic plan of the task force,
if appropriate;
(2) modifications to the strategic plan of the task
force; and
(3) legislation that the task force considers
necessary to implement the strategic plan.
(b) This section expires September 1, 2007.