By: Thompson of Harris H.B. No. 2550

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment and duties of a task force to study and make recommendations on family support and parent education programs.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapter M to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER M. TASK FORCE ON FAMILY SUPPORT AND PARENT

EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Sec. 531.431. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "task force" means the task force on family support and parent education programs established under Section 531.432.

Sec. 531.432. ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE. The task force on family support and parent education programs is established to advise the executive commissioner regarding:

(1) the availability and quality of family support and parent education programs in this state;

(2) expanding access in this state to family support and parent education programs of varying degrees of intensity;

(3) using existing administrative and program data to identify and evaluate gaps in family support and parent education program curriculum and informing providers of family support and parent education programs of those gaps and of underserved geographic areas and populations;

(4) developing policy recommendations for family support and parent education programs;

(5) determining uniform desired outcomes for family support and parent education programs and establishing accountability standards relating to those outcomes; and

(6) developing comprehensive statewide best practice guidelines for family support and parent education programs.

Sec. 531.433. COMPOSITION OF TASK FORCE. The task force is composed of 17 members appointed by the executive commissioner as follows:

(1) one representative of the commission;

(2) one representative of a school readiness organization;

(3) one representative of a child abuse and neglect prevention organization;

(4) one representative of a parent education organization;

(5) one representative of a mental health organization;

(6) one representative of The University of Texas School of Public Health;

(7) one representative of the prevention and early intervention program of the Department of Family and Protective Services;

(8) one representative of the nurse-family partnership program of the commission;

(9) one university-based research professional who has expertise in evaluating family support and parent education program outcomes;

(10) one provider of evidence-based family support and parent education programs;

(11) one representative from the Texas Education Agency;

(12) one representative of a faith-based organization;

(13) one medical professional with experience serving families;

(14) one representative from the Texas State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care;

(15) one representative of the business sector;

(16) one representative of an organization that invests in family support and parent education programs; and

(17) one representative of the probation and community services division of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.

Sec. 531.434. PRESIDING OFFICER. The executive commissioner shall appoint a member of the task force to serve as presiding officer.

Sec. 531.435. VACANCY. A vacancy on the task force shall be filled by appointment in the same manner as the original appointment.

Sec. 531.436. MEETINGS. The task force shall meet at least quarterly at the call of the presiding officer. The task force shall meet at other times as determined by the presiding officer.

Sec. 531.437. DUTIES. (a) The task force shall:

(1) receive reports and testimony from individuals, state and local governmental agencies, community-based organizations, and other public and private organizations regarding family support and parent education programs;

(2) identify family support and parent education programs that are being implemented in this state and describe for each program:

(A) the scope of the program, both geographically and in terms of content;

(B) whether the program is evidence-based;

(C) the effectiveness of the program; and

(D) the manner in which the program's effectiveness and outcomes are monitored;

(3) develop a comprehensive strategy for increasing access by parents in this state to evidence-based family support and parent education programs of varying degrees of intensity;

(4) assess this state's compliance with:

(A) any applicable requirements that a family support and parent education program in which a parent participates under a court order or at the request of the child protective services division of the Department of Family and Protective Services be evidence-based; and

(B) state funding allocation requirements for evidence-based family support and parent education programs; and

(5) develop policy and other recommendations for:

(A) expanding evidence-based family support and parent education programs; and

(B) establishing comprehensive statewide best practice guidelines for family support and parent education programs.

(b) In developing recommendations under Subsection (a)(5), the task force shall include recommendations regarding:

(1) family support and parent education program funding in this state;

(2) methods for using existing administrative and program data to:

(A) identify populations in need of additional services;

(B) identify long-term measures of program effectiveness; and

(C) assess the performance of programs and relevant state agencies; and

(3) appropriate programs for specific populations, including:

(A) ethnic and racial minority populations; and

(B) families exhibiting both low and high levels of risk factors, which include a preterm birth, poverty, having low parent educational attainment, having one or more teenage parents, having poor maternal health, and having parent unemployment or underemployment.

Sec. 531.438. REPORT. (a) The task force shall prepare a report that includes:

(1) a description of the activities of the task force;

(2) the findings and recommendations of the task force, including recommendations described by Section 531.437(a)(5); and

(3) proposed legislation or recommendations or information on any other relevant matter that the task force considers appropriate.

(b) Not later than December 1, 2016, the task force shall submit the report prepared under this section to the executive commissioner, the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the presiding officers of the standing committees of the senate and house of representatives having primary jurisdiction over issues relating to family support and parent education.

Sec. 531.439. RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMMISSION. (a) The commission shall provide reasonably necessary administrative and technical support to the task force.

(b) The executive commissioner shall consider implementing the recommendations of the task force. If the executive commissioner proposes to adopt or amend a rule as a result of the recommendations of the task force, the executive commissioner shall seek input from the task force in developing the new or amended rule.

Sec. 531.440. COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT. Members of the task force serve without compensation and may not be reimbursed for travel or other expenses incurred while conducting the business of the task force.

Sec. 531.441. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. Chapter 2110 does not apply to the task force.

Sec. 531.442. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The commission may accept on behalf of the task force a gift, grant, or donation from any source to carry out the purposes of this subchapter.

Sec. 531.443. EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and this subchapter expires September 1, 2017.

SECTION 2. The executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall appoint the members of the task force on family support and parent education programs in accordance with Subchapter M, Chapter 531, Government Code, as added by this Act, as soon as possible after the effective date of this Act.

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, 2015.