87R21988 MCK-D
 
  By: White, Thierry, J. Johnson of Harris, H.B. No. 1237
      et al.
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to adverse disproportionalities within the child
  protective services system.
         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 40.028 to read as follows:
         Sec. 40.028.  ANALYZING AND ADDRESSING ADVERSE
  DISPROPORTIONALITY. (a)  The commissioner shall analyze the
  adverse disproportionate involvement of children who are members of
  a demographic group in the child protective services system,
  including at each stage of child protective services
  investigations.
         (b)  On identifying an adverse disproportionality described
  by Subsection (a), the commissioner shall:
               (1)  establish a team to address the
  disproportionality; and
               (2)  notify the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker
  of the house of representatives, and chairs of the standing
  committees of the senate and house of representatives having
  primary jurisdiction over the department of the
  disproportionality.
         (c)  In appointing members to a team to address the adverse
  disproportionality, the commissioner shall appoint representatives
  with expertise in different subjects relevant to the
  disproportionality.
         (d)  The commissioner shall direct the team to:
               (1)  research an evidence-based approach to address the
  adverse disproportionality;
               (2)  identify resources for addressing and eliminating
  or reducing the disproportionality; and
               (3)  assist the commissioner in obtaining those
  resources from and if necessary requesting those resources from the
  legislature.
         (e)  The commissioner shall set a time to complete the
  elimination or reduction of the adverse disproportionality and
  measures for determining whether the disproportionality has been
  eliminated or reduced.
         (f)  As soon as practicable, the commissioner shall report to
  the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of
  representatives, and chairs of the standing committees of the
  senate and house of representatives having primary jurisdiction
  over the department on:
               (1)  the evidence-based approach the department will
  use to eliminate or reduce the adverse disproportionality;
               (2)  the resources needed to eliminate or reduce the
  disproportionality;
               (3)  the time set to complete the elimination or
  reduction of the disproportionality; and
               (4)  the strategic plan and measures to eliminate or
  reduce the adverse disproportionality.
         (g)  At the conclusion of the time set by the commissioner to
  complete the elimination or reduction of the adverse
  disproportionality, the commissioner shall report to the governor,
  lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and
  chairs of the standing committees of the senate and house of
  representatives having primary jurisdiction over the department:
               (1)  the results of the department's evidence-based
  approach to eliminating or reducing the disproportionality; and
               (2)  if the department's approach:
                     (A)  successfully eliminated or reduced the
  disproportionality, the department's plan for ensuring the
  disproportionality is not reinstated or expanded; or
                     (B)  failed to eliminate or reduce the
  disproportionality:
                           (i)  the reasons the approach failed; and
                           (ii)  the new strategic plan and measures
  the department will implement to eliminate or reduce the
  disproportionality.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.