BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

H.B. 824

82R4685 EES-D

By: Villarreal et al. (Van de Putte)

 

Health & Human Services

 

5/6/2011

 

Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

H.B. 824 seeks to increase a father's participation in the prenatal period of his child's life by requiring the attorney general to develop a publication describing the importance of a father's role during pregnancy for distribution to contractors and clients of the Women, Infants and Children program.

 

H.B. 824 amends current law relating to an outreach campaign to promote fathers' involvement with their children before birth.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section 32.0211, as follows:

 

Sec. 32.0211.  WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN PROGRAM OUTREACH CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE FATHERS' INVOLVEMENT.  (a) Requires the attorney general to:

 

(1)  subject to Subsections (b) and (c), develop and periodically update a publication that:

 

(A)  describes the importance and long-term positive effects on children of a father's involvement during a mother's pregnancy; and

 

(B)  provides guidance to prospective fathers on the positive actions that they can take to support the pregnant mother during pregnancy and the effect those actions have on pregnancy outcomes; and

 

(2)  make the publication described by Subdivision (1) available to any agency, organization, or other entity that contracts with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children and on the attorney general's Internet website in a format that allows the public to download and print the publication.

 

(b)  Requires that the publication developed by the attorney general under Subsection (a) include:

 

(1)  information regarding the steps that unmarried parents must take if the parents want to establish legal paternity and the benefits of paternity establishment for children;

 

(2)  a worksheet to help fathers identify personal risk behaviors, including smoking, substance abuse, and unemployment;

 

(3)  information regarding how a father's personal risk behaviors may affect the father's child and a guide to resources that are available to the father to assist in making necessary lifestyle changes;

 

(4)  information for fathers about the mother's prenatal health, including the emotional and physical changes a mother will experience throughout pregnancy, the mother's nutritional needs, and an explanation of how the father may help the mother meet those needs;

 

(5)  an explanation of prenatal health care visits, including an explanation of what they are and what to expect, and the practical ways a father may support the mother throughout pregnancy;

 

(6)  information regarding a child's prenatal health, including the child's developmental stages, the importance of attending prenatal health care visits, the practical ways a father may  contribute to healthy baby outcomes, and actions the father may take to prepare for the birth of a child;

 

(7)  an explanation regarding prenatal tests, including an explanation of what the tests are and what tests to expect;

 

(8)  basic infant care information, including:

 

(A)  information regarding the basics of dressing, diapering, bathing, consoling, and stimulating an infant;

 

(B)  health and safety issues, including issues relating to nutritional information, sleep needs and expectations, baby-proofing a home, and what to expect at the first well-child visits; and

 

(C)  information on bonding and attachment and how each relates to an infant's development;

 

(9)  healthy relationship and coparenting information, including communication strategies, conflict resolution strategies, and problem-solving techniques for coparenting;

 

(10)  worksheets, activities, and exercises to aid fathers and the couple in exploring the following topics:

 

(A)  personal ideas about fatherhood and the role of the father in the family system;

 

(B)  the immediate and long-term benefits of father involvement specific to their family; and

 

(C)  perceived barriers to father involvement and strategies for overcoming those barriers; and

 

(11)  activities and projects for fathers that increase the fathers' understanding of the stages of child developmental and health and safety issues.

 

(c)  Requires the attorney general, in developing the publication required by Subsection (a), to consult with:

 

(1)  the department as the state agency responsible for administering the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children and this state's program under the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. Section 701 et seq.); and

 

(2)  the Texas Council on Family Violence.

 

(d)  Requires an agency, organization, or other entity that contracts with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children to make the publication described by Subsection (a) available to each client receiving clinical or nutritional services under the program.

 

SECTION 2.  Provides that, notwithstanding Section 32.0211(d), Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, the Department of State Health Services and an agency, organization, or other entity providing services under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children are not required to comply with that section until the attorney general makes the publication available as described by Section 32.0211(a)(2), Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.

 

SECTION 3.  Requires a stage agency, if necessary for implementation of a provision of this Act, to request a waiver or authorization from a federal agency, and authorizes delay of implementation until such waivers or authorizations are granted.

 

SECTION 4.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2011.