86R7192 SCL-D
 
  By: Watson S.B. No. 487
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the office of minority statistics and engagement in the
  Department of Family and Protective Services.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code,
  is amended by adding Section 40.043 to read as follows:
         Sec. 40.043.  OFFICE OF MINORITY STATISTICS AND ENGAGEMENT.
  (a) In this section:
               (1)  "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.
               (2)  "Office" means the office of minority statistics
  and engagement established under this section.
         (b)  Using existing resources, the department, in
  consultation with an institution of higher education and the child
  welfare community, shall establish an office of minority statistics
  and engagement within the department to address the
  disproportionality in the rate of use of child protective and
  welfare services by and the provision of those services to children
  who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group and are in the
  child welfare system.
         (c)  In collaboration with an institution of higher
  education and appropriate persons in the child welfare community,
  the office shall identify the causes of the disproportionality
  described by Subsection (b) and develop recommendations for
  addressing those causes and for improving the rate of use of child
  protective and welfare services by and the provision of those
  services to children and their families. In identifying the causes
  and developing recommendations, the office shall:
               (1)  share with the institution any information
  necessary for the institution to assist in identifying the causes
  and developing recommendations;
               (2)  consider the unique needs and resources of this
  state; and
               (3)  consider the outcomes for children in the child
  welfare system and the services necessary to improve the outcomes.
         (d)  The office shall annually submit a written report to the
  governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of
  representatives, and chair of each standing legislative committee
  with primary jurisdiction over the department that includes:
               (1)  the recommendations developed under Subsection
  (c);
               (2)  methods to address disproportionality across the
  child welfare system; and
               (3)  a summary of the initiatives developed by the
  department during the preceding year to address the causes of
  disproportionality identified in Subsection (c).
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.