BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 662
80R3745 KSD-D By: Dukes, Veasey (Ellis)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Although prevention and intervention services for child abuse and neglect are available statewide, the specific services offered and their availability as well as the jurisdiction of each program is often unknown. According to the Prevention and Early Intervention Division of the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), the population for which services are available may not be known even when service areas are clearly identified. As a result, prevention and intervention services for child abuse and neglect are fragmented.
H.B. 662 seeks to rectify this problem by having the DFPS coordinate with the Interagency Coordinating Council for Building Health Families to develop a strategic plan for child abuse and neglect prevention services. The bill requires transition to a system that promotes prevention services through public awareness efforts and outreach. The council will work with agencies to develop and improve policies for the prevention of child abuse and neglect.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to any state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 265.001(1), Family Code, to redefine "department."
SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 265, Family Code, by adding Section 265.005, as follows:
Sec. 265.005. STRATEGIC PLAN FOR CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PREVENTION SERVICES. (a) Requires the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), in consultation with the Interagency Coordinating Council for Building Healthy Families (council), to develop, not later than December 1, 2008, a statewide, long-term strategic plan for child abuse and neglect prevention services (plan). Requires the plan to include certain information.
(b) Requires DFPS to assist the council in any reasonable manner requested by the council in preparing the portion of the council's report to the legislature regarding the strategic plan required by Section 267.001(g).
(c) Provides that this section expires September 1, 2009.
SECTION 3. Redesignates Chapter 266, Family Code, as added by Chapter 587, Acts of the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005, as Chapter 267, Family Code, and renumbers and amends it, as follows:
CHAPTER 267. INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR BUILDING
HEALTHY FAMILIES
Sec. 267.001. INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR BUILDING HEALTHY FAMILIES. Redesignated from existing Section 266.001. (a) Sets forth that the council is established for certain purposes.
(b) Provides that the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative is included in the list of agencies from which one representative appointed by the executive director or commissioner is to serve on the council.
(c)-(e) Makes no changes to these subsections.
(f) Requires the council to evaluate the potential for streamlined funding mechanisms for programs and services for the prevention of an early intervention in child abuse and neglect; the effectiveness and cost efficiency of state-funded programs and services for the prevention of an early intervention in child abuse and neglect; the effectiveness of state-funded child maltreatment prevention programs and services in achieving their intended outcomes and methods for transitioning those programs and services to an increased reliance on evidence-based practices; methods for the ongoing identification of additional opportunities for comprehensive improvements to the delivery of services for the prevention of and early intervention in child abuse and neglect; and the need for increased state funding for programs and services for the prevention of and early intervention in child abuse and neglect in order to ensure a sustained, long-term, cost-effective investment in families in this state. Deletes existing text requiring the council to prepare and submit by a certain date 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) Requires the council, not later than December 1, 2008, rather than December 1, 2006, to 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. Requires the council to include in the report the status of the council's findings based on the council's evaluation under Subsections (f)(1), (4), and (5); details regarding the strategic plan for child abuse and neglect prevention services developed by the DFPS in consultation with the council under Section 265.005; and the council's recommendations regarding implementation of the strategic plan, including a detailed explanation of the resources, the funds, and any interagency or intergovernmental agreements necessary to accomplish the plan. Makes a conforming change.
(h) Requires the council, not later than December 1, 2009, to prepare and submit to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the legislature a report containing the status of the council's findings based on the council's evaluation under Subsections (f)(2) and (3).
Sec. 267.002. EXPIRATION OF CHAPTER. Redesignated from Section 266.002. Provides that this chapter expires January 1, 2010, rather than September 1, 2007.
SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.