BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2111

By: Strama

Human Services

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The transitional living services program was established to prepare youth living in foster care for independent living, and training in certain practical activities is required for certain youth.  The transient nature of foster care can result in inconsistent eating habits and may leave foster children with a lack of knowledge about food preparation and cooking. In addition, foster children may not have access to reliable nutrition information. Among other provisions, C.S.H.B. 2111 seeks to add training in food preparation and nutrition education that promotes healthy food choices to the transitional living services program.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2111 amends the Family Code to require, rather than authorize, that the experiential life-skills training a foster care provider is required to provide or assist youth who are age 14 or older in obtaining include training in certain practical activities.  The bill adds the condition that training for the practical activity of using public transportation is included among those activities when it is appropriate. The bill includes services that will assist youth in developing skills in food preparation and nutrition education that promotes healthy food choices among the services a person with whom the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) contracts for transitional living services for foster youth is required to provide or assist youth in obtaining. The bill requires an entity with which DFPS contracts for transitional living services for foster youth, when appropriate, to partner with a community-based organization to assist the entity in providing the transitional living services.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 2111 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and highlighted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1. Section 264.121(f), Family Code, is amended to read as follows: (f) The department shall require a person with whom the department contracts for transitional living services for foster youth to provide or assist youth in obtaining: (1) housing services; (2) job training and employment services; (3) college preparation services; (4) services that will assist youth in obtaining a general education development certificate; [and] (5) services that will assist youth in developing skills in food preparation; (6) nutrition education that promotes healthy food choices; and (7) [(5)] any other appropriate transitional living service identified by the department.	SECTION 1. Section 264.121, Family Code, is amended by amending Subsections (a-1) and (f) and adding Subsection (g) to read as follows: (a-1) The department shall require a foster care provider to provide or assist youth who are age 14 or older in obtaining experiential life-skills training to improve their transition to independent living. Experiential life-skills training must be tailored to a youth's skills and abilities and must [may] include training in practical activities that include grocery shopping, meal preparation and cooking, [using public transportation,] performing basic household tasks, [and] balancing a checkbook, and, when appropriate, using public transportation. (f) The department shall require a person with whom the department contracts for transitional living services for foster youth to provide or assist youth in obtaining: (1) housing services; (2) job training and employment services; (3) college preparation services; (4) services that will assist youth in obtaining a general education development certificate; [and] (5) services that will assist youth in developing skills in food preparation; (6) nutrition education that promotes healthy food choices; and (7) [(5)] any other appropriate transitional living service identified by the department. (g) An entity with which the department contracts for transitional living services for foster youth shall, when appropriate, partner with a community-based organization to assist the entity in providing the transitional living services.
SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to a person who enters into a contract with the Department of Family and Protective Services to provide transitional living services for foster youth on or after the effective date of this Act.	SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.
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, 2013.	SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.