86R2986 EAS-D
 
  By: Powell S.B. No. 1353
 
 
 
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; 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)  intimate partner violence;
               (5)  parental separation or divorce; and
               (6)  substance use disorder, mental illness, or
  incarceration of a member of a child's household.
         (b)  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, 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 of, screening for, and treatment of
  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.
         (c)  In developing the five-year strategic plan under
  Subsection (b)(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)  social services providers;
               (7)  the law enforcement and criminal justice
  community;
               (8)  faith-based organizations; and
               (9)  the business community.
         (d)  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, treat,
  and prevent adverse childhood experiences;
               (2)  provide trauma-informed practices;
               (3)  provide high quality child care;
               (4)  provide support to parents to develop social and
  economic independence;
               (5)  develop voluntary, evidence-based home visiting
  programs specifically developed to meet the needs of women who are
  pregnant and families with an infant to strengthen parenting skills
  and the child's social and emotional development;
               (6)  develop parental support programs for teen parents
  and young mothers;
               (7)  develop parental education training and
  counseling programs;
               (8)  identify best practices for child protective
  services;
               (9)  treat mental illness and substance use disorder;
  and
               (10)  prevent intimate partner and family violence.
         (e)  The commission shall publish the five-year strategic
  plan required by Subsection (b) on the commission's Internet
  website.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than December 1, 2020, the Health and
  Human Services Commission shall:
               (1)  develop the five-year strategic plan required by
  Section 531.0222(b)(4), Government Code, as added by this Act; and
               (2)  submit a report to the Senate Health and Human
  Services 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 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.