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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a pilot program in Bexar County to |
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provide an educational course to certain parents on the effects of |
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child abuse and neglect. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 263, Family Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 263.107 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 263.107. EDUCATIONAL COURSE PILOT PROGRAM. (a) In |
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this section, "abuse" and "neglect" have the meanings assigned by |
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Section 261.001. |
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(b) The department shall establish a pilot program in Bexar |
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County that requires a parent receiving services from the |
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department in Bexar County and against whom the department has made |
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a finding of abuse or neglect to complete an educational course on |
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the effects of child abuse and neglect on a child. The department |
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shall require completion of the educational course as a condition |
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of the service plan for the parent. |
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(c) The educational course must include at least 16 hours of |
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education regarding the effects of child abuse and neglect on a |
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child and the child's family, including the impact of abuse and |
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neglect on the child's physical, psychological, and emotional |
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well-being. |
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(d) The department may contract with a private entity to |
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provide the course. |
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(e) The department shall establish a reasonable enrollment |
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fee for the course to be paid by the parent. The department may |
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waive or reduce the enrollment fee for an indigent parent. |
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(f) The department shall report to the lieutenant governor, |
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the speaker of the house of representatives, and the members of the |
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legislature not later than January 1, 2013, on the results of the |
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pilot program and the effect the educational course has had on child |
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abuse and neglect cases in Bexar county. The report must include the |
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department's recommendations on improvements to the program and |
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whether the program should be continued on a statewide basis. |
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(g) The department shall adopt rules necessary to implement |
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this section. |
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(h) This section expires September 1, 2013. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |