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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an outreach campaign to promote fathers' involvement |
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with their children before birth. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 32, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 32.0211 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 32.0211. WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN PROGRAM OUTREACH |
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CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE FATHERS' INVOLVEMENT. (a) The attorney general |
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shall: |
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(1) subject to Subsection (b), develop and |
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periodically update a publication that: |
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(A) describes the importance and long-term |
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positive effects on children of a father's involvement during a |
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mother's pregnancy; and |
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(B) provides guidance to prospective fathers on |
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the positive actions that they can take to support the pregnant |
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mother during pregnancy and the effect those actions have on |
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pregnancy outcomes; and |
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(2) make the publication described by Subdivision (1) |
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available to any agency, organization, or other entity that |
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contracts with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for |
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Women, Infants and Children and on the attorney general's Internet |
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website in a format that allows the public to download and print the |
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publication. |
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(b) The publication developed by the attorney general under |
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Subsection (a) must include: |
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(1) information regarding the steps that unmarried |
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parents must take if the parents want to establish legal paternity |
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and the benefits of paternity establishment for children; |
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(2) a worksheet to help fathers identify personal risk |
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behaviors, including smoking, substance abuse, and unemployment; |
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(3) information regarding how a father's personal risk |
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behaviors may affect the father's child and a guide to resources |
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that are available to the father to assist in making necessary |
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lifestyle changes; |
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(4) information for fathers about the mother's |
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prenatal health, including the emotional and physical changes a |
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mother will experience throughout pregnancy, the mother's |
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nutritional needs, and an explanation of how the father may help the |
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mother meet those needs; |
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(5) an explanation of prenatal health care visits, |
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including an explanation of what they are and what to expect, and |
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the practical ways a father may support the mother throughout |
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pregnancy; |
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(6) information regarding a child's prenatal health, |
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including the child's developmental stages, the importance of |
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attending prenatal health care visits, the practical ways a father |
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may contribute to healthy baby outcomes, and actions the father may |
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take to prepare for the birth of a child; |
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(7) an explanation regarding prenatal tests, |
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including an explanation of what the tests are and what tests to |
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expect; |
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(8) basic infant care information, including: |
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(A) information regarding the basics of |
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dressing, diapering, bathing, consoling, and stimulating an |
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infant; |
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(B) health and safety issues, including issues |
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relating to nutritional information, sleep needs and expectations, |
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baby-proofing a home, and what to expect at the first well-child |
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visits; and |
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(C) information on bonding and attachment and how |
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each relates to an infant's development; |
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(9) healthy relationship and coparenting information, |
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including: |
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(A) communication strategies, conflict |
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resolution strategies, and problem-solving techniques for |
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coparenting; and |
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(B) expectations and realities for the couple, |
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whether romantically involved or not, during pregnancy and after |
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the baby arrives; |
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(10) information to help the father understand the |
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mother's circumstances and responsibilities, and methods for |
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supporting her; |
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(11) worksheets, activities, and exercises to aid |
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fathers and the couple in exploring the following topics: |
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(A) personal ideas about fatherhood and the role |
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of the father in the family system; |
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(B) the immediate and long-term benefits of |
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father involvement specific to their family; and |
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(C) perceived barriers to father involvement and |
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strategies for overcoming those barriers; and |
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(12) activities and projects for fathers that increase |
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the fathers' understanding of the stages of child developmental and |
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health and safety issues. |
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(c) An agency, organization, or other entity that contracts |
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with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants |
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and Children shall provide the publication described by Subsection |
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(a) to each pregnant woman receiving clinical or nutritional |
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services under the program and to the prospective father of her |
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child, if possible. |
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SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Section 32.0211(c), Health and |
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Safety Code, as added by this Act, an agency, organization, or other |
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entity providing services under the Special Supplemental Nutrition |
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Program for Women, Infants and Children is not required to comply |
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with that section until the attorney general makes the publication |
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available as described by Section 32.0211(a)(2), Health and Safety |
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Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |