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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the Prevention Advisory Board in the |
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Department of Family and Protective Services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 40.078 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 40.078. PREVENTION ADVISORY BOARD. (a) In this |
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section, "board" means the Prevention Advisory Board. |
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(b) The board is established in the department to promote |
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public awareness and make recommendations to the Health and Human |
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Services Commission, the Department of State Health Services, the |
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department, the governor, and the legislature for changes to law, |
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policy, and practices regarding: |
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(1) the prevention of child abuse and neglect; |
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(2) the development of a state strategy to promote |
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child safety and well-being using enhanced data collection and |
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analysis; and |
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(3) the expansion of evidence-based and promising |
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practice programs, as those terms are described by Sections |
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531.983(b) and (c), Government Code. |
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(c) The board is composed of not more than 25 members, |
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appointed as follows: |
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(1) one member appointed by the governor from the |
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governor's staff; |
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(2) one member appointed by the lieutenant governor |
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from the lieutenant governor's staff; |
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(3) one member appointed by the speaker of the house of |
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representatives from the speaker's staff; |
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(4) one staff member from the Senate Committee on |
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Health and Human Services; |
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(5) one staff member from the House Public Health |
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Committee; and |
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(6) any remaining members appointed by the |
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commissioner. |
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(d) The members appointed under Subsections (c)(1) through |
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(5) serve as ex officio nonvoting members of the board. |
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(e) In appointing members to the board, the commissioner |
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shall attempt to select individuals whose qualifications are not |
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already represented by existing members of the board. Board |
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members must include: |
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(1) a chair of a child fatality review team committee; |
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(2) a pediatrician; |
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(3) a judge; |
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(4) representatives of relevant state agencies; |
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(5) prosecutors who specialize in child abuse and |
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neglect; |
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(6) medical examiners; |
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(7) representatives of service providers to the |
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department; and |
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(8) policy experts in child abuse and neglect |
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prevention, community advocacy, or related fields. |
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(f) The board shall select a chair from among its members |
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and shall meet at least quarterly, with additional meetings called |
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by the chair as necessary. |
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(g) A vacancy on the board shall be filled in the same manner |
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as the original appointment. |
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(h) A member of the board is not entitled to compensation or |
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reimbursement of expenses incurred in performing board duties. |
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(i) The board may take testimony and receive evidence that |
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the board considers necessary to carry out the duties of the board. |
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(j) In developing the recommendations under Subsection (b), |
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the board shall collaborate with the prevention and early |
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intervention services division of the department to: |
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(1) use a public health approach by applying |
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population-based, universal, and targeted strategies for |
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prevention; |
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(2) consider the evidence-based and promising |
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practice programs for home visiting under Section 531.983, |
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Government Code, and parent education under Section 265.101, Family |
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Code, as added by Chapter 1257 (H.B. 2630), Acts of the 84th |
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Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, in structuring accountability |
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and evidence-based measures for child abuse and neglect fatality |
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prevention programming; |
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(3) maximize funding sources to expand prevention |
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programs, including federal and local government funds and private |
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funds; and |
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(4) research and make recommendations regarding the |
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training of external stakeholders, including the expansion of |
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mandated training for medical professionals, child-care workers, |
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educators, and higher education professionals with access to |
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minors, to improve the identification, recognition, reporting, and |
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prevention of child abuse and neglect. |
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(k) The board shall collaborate with the department and the |
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Department of State Health Services to develop and maintain a |
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database of the most effective state and national evidence-based or |
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promising practice programs that address child abuse and neglect |
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and the prevention of child abuse and neglect fatalities. The |
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database shall include the cost per family and a cost-benefit |
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analysis for each program. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |