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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to training for certain individuals who provide care for |
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or services to children in the conservatorship of the Department of |
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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. Section 264.015, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) The department shall, in consultation with current |
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foster parents and adoptive parents, develop a training program for |
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foster parents, adoptive parents, and kinship caregivers regarding |
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the best methods of communicating with children in the |
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conservatorship of the department about issues regarding health and |
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well-being, including: |
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(1) self-image; |
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(2) relationships; |
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(3) goal setting; |
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(4) planning and decision making; and |
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(5) protection from sexually transmitted infections, |
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unintended pregnancy, and exploitation. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 264, Family Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 264.0151 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 264.0151. TRAINING MATERIALS FOR GUARDIANS AD LITEM, |
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ATTORNEYS AD LITEM, AND JUDGES. The department shall, in |
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consultation with current guardians ad litem, attorneys ad litem, |
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and the Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for |
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Children, Youth and Families, develop training materials for |
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guardians ad litem, attorneys ad litem, and judges who represent or |
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preside over cases involving children and youth in the |
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conservatorship of the department concerning the health and |
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well-being of those children and youth, including: |
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(1) policies regarding consent by a minor; |
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(2) general health information; |
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(3) information on healthy relationships; and |
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(4) information on advocating for or representing |
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pregnant and parenting children and youth. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 40.036 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 40.036. CASEWORKER TRAINING ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH. |
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The department shall create a training program for child protective |
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services caseworkers to provide instruction to the caseworkers on |
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age-appropriate, trauma-informed methods of communicating with |
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children in the managing conservatorship of the department |
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regarding reproductive health and healthy relationships. The |
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training program must include best practices for: |
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(1) providing information to a child about consent to |
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sexual activity, including the legal age for consent under state |
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law; |
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(2) preserving confidentiality; and |
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(3) providing services to a child who becomes pregnant |
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or who is a minor parent. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |