82R4685 EES-D

By: Villarreal, et al. H.B. No. 824

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to an outreach campaign to promote fathers' involvement

with their children before birth.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 32, Health and Safety

Code, is amended by adding Section 32.0211 to read as follows:

Sec. 32.0211. WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN PROGRAM OUTREACH

CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE FATHERS' INVOLVEMENT. (a) The attorney general

shall:

(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) The publication developed by the attorney general under

Subsection (a) must 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) In developing the publication required by Subsection

(a), the attorney general shall 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) An agency, organization, or other entity that contracts

with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants

and Children shall make the publication described by Subsection (a)

available to each client receiving clinical or nutritional services

under the program.

SECTION 2. 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. If before implementing any provision of this Act

a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a

federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,

the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or

authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the

waiver or authorization is granted.

SECTION 4. 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, 2011.