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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of an interagency council for |
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addressing disproportionality. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Title 1, Human Resources Code, is amended by |
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adding Chapter 2 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 2. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL FOR ADDRESSING DISPROPORTIONALITY |
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Sec. 2.001. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL FOR ADDRESSING |
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DISPROPORTIONALITY. The Interagency Council for Addressing |
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Disproportionality is established to: |
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(1) examine the level of disproportionate involvement |
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of children who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group at |
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each stage in the juvenile justice, child welfare, education, and |
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mental health systems, including: |
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(A) the points of entry; |
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(B) each point at which a treatment decision is |
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made; and |
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(C) the outcomes for the children exiting the |
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systems; and |
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(2) make recommendations to reduce the involvement of |
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the children in the systems. |
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Sec. 2.002. COMPOSITION OF COUNCIL; MEETINGS. (a) The |
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council consists of: |
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(1) one representative from each of the following |
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agencies appointed by the executive director or commissioner of |
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each agency: |
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(A) the Texas Education Agency; |
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(B) the Center for Elimination of |
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Disproportionality and Disparities within the Health and Human |
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Services Commission; |
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(C) the Department of Assistive and |
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Rehabilitative Services; |
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(D) the Department of Aging and Disability |
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Services; |
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(E) the Department of State Health Services; |
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(F) the Department of Family and Protective |
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Services; |
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(G) the Texas Youth Commission; and |
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(H) the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission; and |
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(2) one representative of the office of the attorney |
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general appointed by the attorney general. |
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(b) A representative of an agency appointed to the council |
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must have an overall understanding of the agency's mission and |
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purpose and substantial experience and expertise relating to the |
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administration of the agency's policies, programs, and activities. |
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(c) The representative from the Center for Elimination of |
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Disproportionality and Disparities within the Health and Human |
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Services Commission serves as the presiding officer of the council. |
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(d) The council shall meet at least quarterly. |
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Sec. 2.003. COUNCIL DUTIES. The council's duties include: |
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(1) reviewing the delivery of public and private child |
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welfare, juvenile justice, mental health, and education services to |
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evaluate the disproportionate rates of use of the services by |
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children who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group; |
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(2) reviewing federal, state, and local funds |
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appropriated to address the disproportionate use of children's |
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services by children who are members of a racial or ethnic minority |
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group; |
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(3) reviewing current best practice standards |
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addressing the disproportionate use of children's services by |
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children who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group; |
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(4) examining the qualifications and training of |
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children's service providers and making recommendations for |
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training curriculum and other necessary changes; |
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(5) recommending methods to improve use of available |
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public and private funds to address the disproportionate use of |
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children's services by children who are members of a racial or |
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ethnic minority group; |
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(6) providing information concerning identified unmet |
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children's service needs and providing recommendations concerning |
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the development of resources to meet the identified needs; |
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(7) examining outcomes for children who are members of |
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a racial or ethnic minority group who have exited or will exit the |
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public and private child welfare, juvenile justice, mental health, |
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and education systems; |
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(8) recommending administrative and legislative |
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actions related to appropriate programs and services to reduce and |
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eliminate disparities in the systems and improve the long-term |
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outcomes for children who are members of a racial or ethnic minority |
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group who are served by the systems; and |
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(9) preparing a report consisting of the council's |
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findings and recommendations, and the presentation of an |
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implementation plan to address disproportionate representation of |
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children who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group in the |
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use of children's services. |
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Sec. 2.004. COUNCIL REPORT. Not later than December 1, |
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2012, the council shall prepare and submit to the lieutenant |
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governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the |
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legislature a report containing the council's findings and |
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recommendations for addressing the disproportionate representation |
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of children who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group in |
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the use of children's services and the council's recommendation as |
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to whether to continue the council. |
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Sec. 2.005. EXPIRATION OF CHAPTER. This chapter expires |
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December 1, 2013. |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2011. |