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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the Council on Children and Families. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter T to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER T. COUNCIL ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES |
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Sec. 531.801. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "council" |
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means the Council on Children and Families. |
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Sec. 531.802. COUNCIL ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. (a) The |
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Council on Children and Families is established to coordinate the |
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state's health, education, and human services systems to ensure |
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that all children and families have access to needed services. |
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(b) Subject to Subsection (c), the council is composed of |
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the following: |
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(1) the executive commissioner; |
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(2) the commissioner of state health services; |
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(3) the commissioner of the Department of Family and |
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Protective Services; |
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(4) the commissioner of aging and disability services; |
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(5) the commissioner of assistive and rehabilitative |
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services; |
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(6) the commissioner of education; |
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(7) the executive director of the Texas Juvenile |
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Probation Commission; |
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(8) the executive commissioner of the Texas Youth |
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Commission; and |
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(9) the executive director of the Texas Workforce |
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Commission. |
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(c) An individual listed in Subsection (b) may designate |
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another individual as having authority to act on behalf of the |
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individual at council meetings and with respect to council |
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functions. |
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(d) The members of the council shall annually elect one |
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member to serve as the presiding officer. |
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(e) The council is administratively attached to the |
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commission but is independent of direction by the commission or the |
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executive commissioner. The commission, through the commission's |
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Office of Program Coordination for Children and Youth, shall |
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provide administrative support and resources to the council as |
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necessary to enable the council to perform its duties. |
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(f) The agencies represented on the council shall provide |
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periodic staff support of specialists as needed to the council. |
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(g) The council is not subject to Chapter 2110. |
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Sec. 531.803. DUTIES. (a) The council shall: |
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(1) develop an interagency legislative appropriations |
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request regarding health, education, and human services provided to |
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children and their families; |
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(2) investigate opportunities to increase flexible |
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funding for health, education, and human services provided to |
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children and their families; |
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(3) identify methods to remove barriers to local |
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coordination of health, education, and human services provided to |
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children and their families; |
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(4) identify methods to ensure that all children and |
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youth receive appropriate assessment, diagnoses, and intervention |
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services; |
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(5) develop methods to prevent unnecessary parental |
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relinquishment of custody of children; |
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(6) prioritize assisting children in family settings |
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rather than institutional settings; and |
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(7) make recommendations about family involvement in |
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the provision and planning of health, education, and human services |
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for a child, including family partner and liaison models. |
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Sec. 531.804. REPORT BY COUNCIL ON CHILD WELFARE. Not later |
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than December 1, 2010, the council shall submit a report to the |
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governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of |
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representatives, and members of the legislature that contains the |
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requests, plans, and recommendations of the council, including |
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recommendations of any legislation that is needed to further |
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develop and maintain a statewide system of quality health, |
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education, and human services for children and families. |
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Sec. 531.805. SUNSET PROVISION. The Council on Children |
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and Families is subject to Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act). Unless |
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continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the council is |
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abolished and this subchapter expires September 1, 2015. |
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SECTION 2. The Council on Children and Families established |
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by Section 531.802, Government Code, as added by this Act, shall |
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convene its initial meeting not later than October 1, 2009. |
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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. |