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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to information and services for foster children who are |
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pregnant or minor parents. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 264.126 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 264.126. PREGNANCY AND PARENTING INFORMATION AND |
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SERVICES. (a) The department shall collect information: |
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(1) on the number of children in the managing |
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conservatorship of the department who are minor parents; |
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(2) on the number of children in the managing |
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conservatorship of the department who are also the children of |
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minor parents as described by Subdivision (1); and |
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(3) with respect to each child who is a minor parent |
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and each child of a minor parent in the managing conservatorship of |
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the department, statistics regarding each child's: |
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(A) ethnicity; |
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(B) type of substitute care placement; |
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(C) county of residence; and |
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(D) length of time in substitute care. |
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(b) The department shall prepare a quarterly report on the |
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information collected under Subsection (a) and make the report |
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available on the department's Internet website. The report may not |
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include any individually identifiable information regarding a |
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minor parent or child who is the subject of information in the |
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report. |
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(c) The department at developmentally appropriate stages |
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shall provide to children in the managing conservatorship of the |
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department who are pregnant or who are minor parents information on |
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and support in providing safe environments for children, including |
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information and support regarding: |
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(1) safe sleeping arrangements; |
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(2) suggestions for childproofing potentially |
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dangerous settings in a home; |
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(3) methods to cope with crying infants; |
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(4) selection of appropriate substitute caregivers; |
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(5) a child's early brain development, including the |
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importance of meeting an infant's developmental needs by providing |
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positive experiences and avoiding adverse experiences; |
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(6) the importance of paternal involvement in a |
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child's life; and |
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(7) the benefits of reading and talking to young |
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children. |
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(d) The department shall provide parenting skills training |
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and other services, including depression screening services, to |
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children in the managing conservatorship of the department who are |
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pregnant or minor parents. |
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(e) The department shall appropriately recruit, prepare, |
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train, and support individuals, including foster parents, |
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substitute caregivers, and mentors, who work directly with children |
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who are pregnant or minor parents in the managing conservatorship |
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of the department to ensure the individuals provide the specialized |
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care and support needed by those children. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Department of Family and Protective Services shall |
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collect the information, prepare the report, and provide the |
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services necessary to implement Section 264.126, Family Code, as |
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added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |