87R13877 TYPED
 
  By: Powell S.B. No. 1199
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the continuation of the MEDCARES grant program and
  transfer of the oversight and administration of the program from
  the Department of State Health Services to the Health and Human
  Services Commission.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 1001, Health and Safety
  Code is hereby repealed.
         SECTION 2.  Section 261.005, Family Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         Sec. 261.005.  REFERENCE TO EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER OR
  COMMISSION. Except as provided for in Subchapter G, [I]in this
  chapter:
               (1)  a reference to the executive commissioner or the
  executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission
  means the commissioner of the department; and
               (2)  a reference to the Health and Human Services
  Commission means the department.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter G, Chapter 261, Family Code, is
  enacted to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER G. TEXAS MEDICAL CHILD ABUSE RESOURCES AND EDUCATION
  SYSTEM (MEDCARES)
         Sec. 261.601.  REFERENCE TO EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER OR
  COMMISSION. In this Subchapter:
               (1)  a reference to the executive commissioner means
  the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services
  Commission; and
               (2)  a reference to the commission means the Health and
  Human Services Commission.
         Sec. 261.602  TEXAS MEDICAL CHILD ABUSE RESOURCES AND
  EDUCATION SYSTEM GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall maintain
  the Texas Medical Child Abuse Resources and Education System
  (MEDCARES) grant program to award grants for the purpose of
  developing and supporting regional programs to improve the
  assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of child abuse and neglect as
  described by the report submitted to the 80th Legislature by the
  committee on pediatric centers of excellence relating to abuse and
  neglect in accordance with Section 266.0031, Family Code, as added
  by Chapter 1406 (S.B. 758), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular
  Session, 2007.
         (b)  The commission may award grants to hospitals or academic
  health centers with expertise in pediatric health care and a
  demonstrated commitment to developing basic and advanced programs
  and centers of excellence for the assessment, diagnosis, and
  treatment of child abuse and neglect.
         (c)  The department shall encourage collaboration among
  grant recipients in the development of program services and
  activities.
         Sec. 261.602.  USE OF GRANT. A grant awarded under this
  subchapter may be used to support:
               (1)  comprehensive medical evaluations, psychosocial
  assessments, treatment services, and written and photographic
  documentation of abuse;
               (2)  education and training for health professionals,
  including physicians, medical students, resident physicians, child
  abuse fellows, and nurses, relating to the assessment, diagnosis,
  and treatment of child abuse and neglect;
               (3)  education and training for community agencies
  involved with child abuse and neglect, law enforcement officials,
  child protective services staff, and children's advocacy centers
  involved with child abuse and neglect;
               (4)  medical case reviews and consultations and
  testimony regarding those reviews and consultations;
               (5)  research, data collection, and quality assurance
  activities, including the development of evidence-based guidelines
  and protocols for the prevention, evaluation, and treatment of
  child abuse and neglect;
               (6)  the use of telemedicine and other means to extend
  services from regional programs into underserved areas; and
               (7)  other necessary activities, services, supplies,
  facilities, and equipment as determined by the department.
         Sec. 261.603.  GIFTS AND GRANTS. The commission may solicit
  and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or private
  source for the purposes of this subchapter.
         Sec. 261.604.  REQUIRED REPORT. Not later than December 1 of
  each even-numbered year, the commission shall submit a report to
  the governor and the legislature regarding the grant activities of
  the program and grant recipients, including the results and
  outcomes of grants provided under this subchapter.
         Sec. 261.605.  RULES. The executive commissioner may adopt
  rules as necessary to implement this subchapter.
         Sec. 261.606.  APPROPRIATION REQUIRED. The commission is
  not required to award a grant under this subchapter unless the
  commission is specifically appropriated money for purposes of this
  subchapter.
         SECTION 4.  The administration and oversight activities of
  the MEDCARES grant program is transferred from the Department of
  State Health Services to the Health and Human Services Commission
  as of the of the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.