H.B. No. 1685
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of an interagency coordinating
council for the prevention of child abuse and neglect.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle E, Title 5, Family Code, is amended by
adding Chapter 266 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 266. INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR
BUILDING HEALTHY FAMILIES
Sec. 266.001. INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR
BUILDING HEALTHY FAMILIES. (a) The Interagency Coordinating
Council for Building Healthy Families is established to facilitate
communication and collaboration concerning policies for the
prevention of and early intervention in child abuse and neglect
among state agencies whose programs and services promote and foster
healthy families.
(b) The council consists of one representative from each of
the following agencies appointed by the executive director or
commissioner of each agency:
(1) the Department of Family and Protective Services;
(2) the Health and Human Services Commission;
(3) the Department of State Health Services;
(4) the Department of Aging and Disability Services;
(5) the Texas Youth Commission;
(6) the Texas Education Agency;
(7) the Texas Workforce Commission;
(8) the office of the attorney general;
(9) the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission; and
(10) the Texas Department of Housing and Community
Affairs.
(c) A representative of an agency appointed to the council
must have an overall understanding of the agency's mission and
purpose and substantial experience and expertise relating to the
administration of the agency's policies, programs, and activities.
(d) The representative from the Department of Family and
Protective Services serves as the presiding officer of the council.
(e) The council shall meet at least quarterly and shall
submit to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of
representatives, and the legislature the minutes of each council
meeting.
(f) Not later than June 1, 2006, the council shall prepare
and submit to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of
representatives, and the legislature an inventory of the child
abuse and neglect prevention and early intervention policies,
programs, and activities of each agency represented on the council.
(g) Not later than December 1, 2006, the council shall
prepare and submit to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the
house of representatives, and the legislature a report containing
the council's recommendations for improving the coordination and
collaboration of child abuse and neglect prevention and early
intervention programs and services among state agencies and the
council's recommendation regarding whether to continue the
council.
Sec. 266.002. EXPIRATION OF CHAPTER. This chapter expires
September 1, 2007.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1685 was passed by the House on April
19, 2005, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1685 was passed by the Senate on May
24, 2005, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor