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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a strategy for reducing child |
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abuse and neglect and improving child welfare. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. In this Act, "task force" means the task force |
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established under this Act to establish a strategy for reducing |
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child abuse and neglect and improving child welfare. |
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SECTION 2. (a) The task force consists of 15 members |
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appointed as follows: |
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(1) five members appointed by the governor; |
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(2) five members appointed by the lieutenant governor; |
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and |
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(3) five members appointed by the speaker of the house |
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of representatives. |
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(b) Members of the task force must be individuals who are |
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actively involved in the fields of the prevention of child abuse and |
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neglect and child welfare. The appointment of members must reflect |
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the geographic diversity of the state. |
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(c) A member of the task force may not be appointed to, or be |
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an employee of, a state agency. |
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(d) A member of the task force is not entitled to |
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compensation for service on the task force but is entitled to |
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reimbursement for travel expenses as provided by Chapter 660, |
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Government Code, and the General Appropriations Act. |
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(e) The task force shall elect a presiding officer by a |
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majority vote of the membership of the task force. |
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(f) The task force shall meet at the call of the presiding |
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officer. |
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(g) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the |
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task force. |
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SECTION 3. (a) The task force shall establish a strategy for |
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reducing child abuse and neglect and for improving child welfare in |
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this state. In establishing that strategy, the task force shall: |
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(1) gather information concerning child safety, child |
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abuse and neglect, and child welfare throughout the state; |
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(2) receive reports and testimony from individuals, |
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state and local agencies, community-based organizations, and other |
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public and private organizations; |
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(3) create goals for state policy that would improve |
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child safety, prevent child abuse and neglect, and improve child |
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welfare; and |
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(4) submit a strategic plan to accomplish those goals. |
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(b) The strategic plan submitted under Subsection (a) of |
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this section may include proposals for specific statutory changes, |
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the creation of new programs, and methods to foster cooperation |
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among state agencies and between the state and local government. |
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SECTION 4. (a) The task force shall consult with employees |
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of the Department of Family and Protective Services, the Department |
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of State Health Services, and the Texas Department of Criminal |
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Justice as necessary to accomplish the task force's |
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responsibilities under this Act. |
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(b) The task force may cooperate as necessary with any other |
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appropriate state agency. |
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SECTION 5. (a) The governor, lieutenant governor, and |
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speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint the members |
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of the task force not later than October 1, 2007. |
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(b) Not later than August 1, 2009, the task force shall |
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submit the strategic plan required by Section 3 of this Act to the |
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governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of |
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representatives. |
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(c) The task force is abolished and this Act expires on |
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September 1, 2009. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |