BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2490

By: Howard

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Texas Home Visiting Program services, which are delivered by registered nurses or other trained professionals, are available to eligible pregnant women or families with children under the age of six who are born with or exposed to one or more risk factors. Those risk factors include having a teenaged mother or father, but barriers to a minor's participation in an applicable home visiting program may be caused by possible confusion over whether minors who are pregnant or parenting may consent to home visitation services. H.B. 2490 seeks to provide access to Texas Home Visiting Program services by these minors by authorizing an individual younger than 18 years of age to consent to enrollment in and to receive services from a home visiting program if the individual meets the eligibility requirements.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2490 amends the Government Code to authorize an individual younger than 18 years of age to consent to enrollment in and to receive Texas Home Visiting Program services from an applicable home visiting program if the individual is otherwise eligible for a home visiting program.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.