79R5695 KSD-D


By:  Dukes                                                        H.B. No. 1685



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

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 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; and                           
		(9)  the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission.                          
	(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 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 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.