By:  Dukes, Naishtat, et al.(Senate Sponsor - Ellis)              H.B. No. 1685
	(In the Senate - Received from the House April 20, 2005; 
April 21, 2005, read first time and referred to Committee on Health 
and Human Services; May 16, 2005, reported favorably by the 
following vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 16, 2005, sent to printer.)


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 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.



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