85R4594 MM-F
 
  By: White, et al. H.B. No. 1522
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a task force to coordinate and make recommendations on
  parent engagement and education programs provided by state
  agencies.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter L-1 to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER L-1. TASK FORCE ON PARENT ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION
  PROGRAMS
         Sec. 531.431.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "task force"
  means the task force on parent engagement and education programs
  established under Section 531.432.
         Sec. 531.432.  ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE. The task force
  on parent engagement and education programs is established to:
               (1)  enhance coordination of parent engagement and
  evidence-based parent education programs across state agencies;
  and
               (2)  develop comprehensive, statewide best practices
  for engaging parents as their children's first and best teachers.
         Sec. 531.433.  COMPOSITION OF TASK FORCE. The task force is
  composed of nine members as follows:
               (1)  the executive commissioner;
               (2)  the commissioner of the Department of Family and
  Protective Services;
               (3)  the executive director of the Texas Workforce
  Commission;
               (4)  the commissioner of the Texas Education Agency;
               (5)  the executive director of the Texas Department of
  Criminal Justice;
               (6)  the executive director of the Texas Juvenile
  Justice Department;
               (7)  one representative of a county juvenile board or
  juvenile probation department appointed by the presiding officer of
  the task force;
               (8)  one representative of a faith-based organization
  appointed by the presiding officer of the task force; and
               (9)  one person appointed by the presiding officer of
  the task force who has experienced challenges meant to be addressed
  by a parent engagement or education program.
         Sec. 531.434.  PRESIDING OFFICER.  The executive
  commissioner shall serve as presiding officer.
         Sec. 531.435. VACANCY. A vacancy for an appointed member of
  the task force shall be filled 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. 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 parent engagement and evidence-based parent education
  programs;
               (2)  identify parent engagement and evidence-based
  parent education programs that are being implemented in this state
  and describe opportunities for improved coordination among those
  programs to:
                     (A)  maximize the programs' effectiveness and
  funding; and
                     (B)  align program outcomes; and
               (3)  develop policy and other recommendations for:
                     (A)  expanding access to parent engagement and
  evidence-based parent education programs;
                     (B)  establishing comprehensive statewide best
  practice guidelines for those programs; and
                     (C)  establishing methods for using existing
  administrative and program data to identify and target program
  services to:
                           (i)  appropriate parents in this state;
                           (ii)  communities with the greatest need for
  the program services; and
                           (iii)  families exhibiting 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(3);
  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, 2018, the task force shall
  submit the report prepared under this section to 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 parent engagement and education.
         Sec. 531.439.  RESPONSIBILITY OF COMMISSION. The commission
  shall provide reasonably necessary administrative and technical
  support to the task force.
         Sec. 531.440.  COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT.  Appointed
  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, 2019.
         SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
  Services Commission shall appoint the members of the task force on
  parent engagement and education programs as required by Sections
  531.433(7), (8), and (9), Government Code, as added by 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, 2017.