81R10431 UM-F
 
  By: Van de Putte S.B. No. 1646
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of the Council on Children and Families.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter T to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER T. COUNCIL ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
         Sec. 531.801.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "council"
  means the Council on Children and Families.
         Sec. 531.802.  COUNCIL ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. (a)  The
  Council on Children and Families is established to coordinate the
  state's health, education, and human services systems to ensure
  that all children and families have access to needed services.
         (b)  Subject to Subsection (c), the council is composed of
  the following:
               (1)  the executive commissioner;
               (2)  the commissioner of state health services;
               (3)  the commissioner of the Department of Family and
  Protective Services;
               (4)  the commissioner of aging and disability services;
               (5)  the commissioner of assistive and rehabilitative
  services;
               (6)  the commissioner of education;
               (7)  the executive director of the Texas Juvenile
  Probation Commission;
               (8)  the executive commissioner of the Texas Youth
  Commission; and
               (9)  the executive director of the Texas Workforce
  Commission.
         (c)  An individual listed in Subsection (b) may designate
  another individual as having authority to act on behalf of the
  individual at council meetings and with respect to council
  functions.
         (d)  The members of the council shall annually elect one
  member to serve as the presiding officer.
         (e)  The council is administratively attached to the
  commission but is independent of direction by the commission or the
  executive commissioner. The commission, through the commission's
  Office of Program Coordination for Children and Youth, shall
  provide administrative support and resources to the council as
  necessary to enable the council to perform its duties.
         (f)  The agencies represented on the council shall provide
  periodic staff support of specialists as needed to the council.
         (g)  The council is not subject to Chapter 2110.
         Sec. 531.803.  DUTIES.  (a)  The council shall:
               (1)  develop an interagency legislative appropriations
  request regarding health, education, and human services provided to
  children and their families;
               (2)  investigate opportunities to increase flexible
  funding for health, education, and human services provided to
  children and their families;
               (3)  identify methods to remove barriers to local
  coordination of health, education, and human services provided to
  children and their families;
               (4)  identify methods to ensure that all children and
  youth receive appropriate assessment, diagnoses, and intervention
  services;
               (5)  develop methods to prevent unnecessary parental
  relinquishment of custody of children;
               (6)  prioritize assisting children in family settings
  rather than institutional settings; and
               (7)  make recommendations about family involvement in
  the provision and planning of health, education, and human services
  for a child, including family partner and liaison models.
         Sec. 531.804.  REPORT BY COUNCIL ON CHILD WELFARE.  Not later
  than December 1, 2010, the council shall submit a report to the
  governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of
  representatives, and members of the legislature that contains the
  requests, plans, and recommendations of the council, including
  recommendations of any legislation that is needed to further
  develop and maintain a statewide system of quality health,
  education, and human services for children and families.
         Sec. 531.805.  SUNSET PROVISION. The Council on Children
  and Families is subject to Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act). Unless
  continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the council is
  abolished and this subchapter expires September 1, 2015.
         SECTION 2.  The Council on Children and Families established
  by Section 531.802, Government Code, as added by this Act, shall
  convene its initial meeting not later than October 1, 2009.
         SECTION 3.  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, 2009.