86R15442 EAS-D
 
  By: Parker, Zerwas, Miller, H.B. No. 4183
      Thompson of Harris, Sanford, et al.
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to addressing adverse childhood experiences and
  developing a strategic plan to address those experiences.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 531.0222 to read as follows:
         Sec. 531.0222.  COORDINATION TO ADDRESS ADVERSE CHILDHOOD
  EXPERIENCES; PROGRESS REPORT AND STRATEGIC PLAN.  (a)  In this
  section, "adverse childhood experience" includes:
               (1)  abuse as defined by Section 261.001, Family Code;
               (2)  neglect as defined by Section 261.001, Family
  Code;
               (3)  family violence as defined by Section 71.004,
  Family Code;
               (4)  death of a parent;
               (5)  parental separation or divorce; and
               (6)  substance use disorder, mental illness, or
  incarceration of a member of a child's household.
         (b)  A program, service, or support established under this
  section may not include sex education.
         (c)  In order to reduce exposure of children in this state to
  adverse childhood experiences and to address the social, health,
  and economic impacts of those experiences, the commission, in
  collaboration with the Department of Family and Protective
  Services, the Department of State Health Services, the Texas
  Education Agency, the Texas Workforce Commission, the office of the
  attorney general, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, and an
  institution of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003,
  Education Code, with expertise in addressing adverse childhood
  experiences through a public health framework shall:
               (1)  analyze data related to the causes and effects of
  adverse childhood experiences, including data from the Behavioral
  Risk Factor Surveillance System established by the Centers for
  Disease Control and Prevention of the United States Public Health
  Service;
               (2)  evaluate prevention needs and gaps in services and
  support regarding awareness, assessments, and interventions
  addressing adverse childhood experiences;
               (3)  identify methods to incorporate best practices for
  preventing and treating adverse childhood experiences into
  existing services and support programs offered for children and
  families; and
               (4)  develop and implement a five-year strategic plan
  to prevent and address adverse childhood experiences.
         (d)  In developing the five-year strategic plan under
  Subsection (c)(4), the commission may collaborate with
  representatives of:
               (1)  state and local agencies and nonprofit
  organizations that work directly with children and families;
               (2)  child welfare services providers;
               (3)  early childhood education programs;
               (4)  public schools;
               (5)  medical and mental health services providers;
               (6)  family support and social services providers;
               (7)  the law enforcement, judicial, and criminal
  justice communities;
               (8)  faith-based organizations;
               (9)  families and children impacted by adverse
  childhood experiences; and
               (10)  the business and philanthropic communities.
         (e)  The strategic plan must incorporate a public health
  approach that promotes collaboration between agencies and
  community-based providers. The strategic plan may include
  strategies to:
               (1)  train and educate professionals to assess,
  intervene, and prevent adverse childhood experiences;
               (2)  provide trauma-informed practices for families,
  children, and providers impacted by adverse childhood experiences;
               (3)  provide high quality child care;
               (4)  provide support to parents to develop social and
  economic independence;
               (5)  provide support to strengthen the engagement of
  fathers in their children's lives and establish paternity;
               (6)  incorporate voluntary, evidence-based home
  visiting programs to strengthen families and to connect families to
  community resources;
               (7)  develop parental support programs for teen parents
  and young mothers;
               (8)  develop parental education training and
  counseling programs;
               (9)  identify best practices for child protective
  services and investigations;
               (10)  prevent and treat mental illness and substance
  use disorder;
               (11)  prevent intimate partner and family violence; and
               (12)  prevent chronic diseases related to adverse
  childhood experiences.
         (f)  The entities listed in Subsection (c) shall develop a
  community awareness approach to implement the strategies and
  recommendations in the strategic plan required under Subsection
  (c)(4).
         (g)  The entities listed in Subsection (c) shall publish the
  five-year strategic plan required by Subsection (c)(4) on their
  respective Internet websites.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than March 1, 2020, the Health and
  Human Services Commission shall develop a progress report to
  include data, best practices, and implementable changes within the
  commission's current capacity.
         SECTION 3.  Not later than December 31, 2020, the Health and
  Human Services Commission shall:
               (1)  develop the five-year strategic plan required by
  Section 531.0222(c)(4), Government Code, as added by this Act; and
               (2)  submit a report to the Senate Health and Human
  Services Committee, the Senate Education Committee, the Senate
  Criminal Justice Committee, the House Public Education Committee,
  the House Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committee, the House
  Public Health Committee, and the House Human Services Committee
  regarding the commission's strategies for preventing and treating
  adverse childhood experiences and any plan to incorporate those
  strategies into existing services and support programs for children
  and families.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.