By: Parker H.B. No. 3493
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to prevention and early intervention services by the
  Department of Family and Protective Services.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The purpose for this Act is to improve the
  delivery of prevention and early intervention services for certain
  children while maximizing the efficient use of taxpayer dollars
  through a community-based approach.
         SECTION 2.  Section 265.007, Family Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         Sec. 265.007.  IMPROVING PROVISION OF PREVENTION AND EARLY
  INTERVENTION SERVICES. (a) In this section, "adverse childhood
  experience" means a potentially traumatic event that occurs in the
  life of a person younger than 18 years of age, including:
               (1)  abuse as defined by Section 261.001, Family Code;
               (2)  family violence as defined by Section 71.004,
  Family Code;
               (3)  neglect as defined by Section 261.001, Family
  Code;
               (4)  death of a parent; and
               (5)  substance use disorder, mental illness, or
  incarceration of a member of a child's household.
         (a-1)  To improve the effectiveness and delivery of
  prevention and early intervention services, the department shall:
               (1)  identify geographic areas that have a high need
  for prevention and early intervention services but do not have
  prevention and early intervention services available in the area or
  have only unevaluated prevention and early intervention services
  available in the area; [and]
               (2)  develop a request for information to assist the
  department in the development of the strategic plan described in
  Section 265.005 to improve prevention and early intervention
  services;
               (3)  send the request for information developed under
  Subdivision (2) to a diverse set of stakeholders and providers
  throughout the state, including:
                     (A)  state and local agencies and nonprofit
  organizations that work directly with children and families;
                     (B)  child welfare service providers;
                     (C)  early childhood education programs;
                     (D)  public schools;
                     (E)  medical and mental health service providers;
                     (F)  family support and social services
  providers;
                     (G)  the law enforcement, judicial, and criminal
  justice communities;
                     (H)  faith-based organizations;
                     (I)  the intellectual or developmental disability
  community;
                     (J)  families and children impacted by child
  abuse, neglect, and other adverse childhood experiences;
                     (K)  the business and philanthropic communities;
  and
                     (L)  single source continuum contractors; and
               (4)  in collaboration with the Health and Human
  Services Commission, the Department of State Health Services, the
  Texas Education Agency, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the
  Office of the Attorney General:
                     (A)  develop an inventory of programs and services
  that are funded by the state that contribute to the prevention of
  child abuse, neglect, and other adverse childhood experiences;
                     (B)  develop an inventory of programs and services
  that are provided by other entities, including those listed in
  Section 265.007(a-1)(3), Family Code, that contribute to the
  prevention of child abuse, neglect, and other adverse childhood
  experiences;
                     (C)  facilitate opportunities to increase
  collaboration for the effective expenditure of available federal
  and state funds and better leverage public and private partnerships
  to increase efficiency; and
                     (D)  develop strategies for community partners
  to:
                           (i) [(A)]  improve the early recognition of
  child abuse or neglect;
                           (ii) [(B)]  improve the reporting of child
  abuse and neglect; [and]
                           (iii) [(C)]  reduce child fatalities;
                           (iv)  improve the ability of community
  partners to distinguish situations in which a child is in imminent
  danger from situations in which the child and child's family would
  be better served by providing community-based services; and
                           (v)  implement cross-sector, evidence-based
  practices that prevent adverse childhood experiences.
         (b)  The entities listed in Subsection (a-1)(4) shall:
               (1)  use a community awareness approach to implement
  the strategies and recommendations developed under this section;
  and
               (2)  request information and invite comment from
  representatives of single source continuum contractors.
         (c)  The department may not use data techniques, including
  predictive analytics, risk-based modeling, and other similar
  assessments, to develop, deliver, or implement prevention and early
  intervention services as it relates to adverse childhood
  experiences.
         (d)  The department may not use data gathered under this
  section to:
               (1)  identify a specific family or individual; or
               (2)  infringe upon the individual's or family's right
  to privacy.
         SECTION 3.  Not later than December 1, 2022, the Department
  of Family and Protective Services shall submit a report to the
  legislature and the governor that includes:
               (1)  a summary of community feedback, available data,
  best practices, and implementable changes within the entities
  listed in Section 265.007(a-1)(4), Family Code, as added by this
  Act, with regard to the progress of efforts made under Section
  265.007, Family Code, as amended by this Act; and
               (2)  specific short-term and long-term statutory,
  administrative, and budget-related recommendations for reforms
  necessary to improve the delivery of prevention and intervention
  services across state agencies.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.