S.B. No. 24

AN ACT

relating to the powers and duties of the Health and Human Services Commission and the transfer to the commission of certain powers and duties from the Department of Family and Protective Services.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Title 9, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Chapter 137, and a heading is added to that chapter to read as follows:

CHAPTER 137. FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES

SECTION 2. Subchapters A, B, and C, Chapter 265, Family Code, are transferred to Chapter 137, Human Resources Code, as added by this Act, redesignated as Subchapters A, B, and C, Chapter 137, Human Resources Code, respectively, and amended to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER A. FAMILY SUPPORT [PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION]

SERVICES

Sec. 137.001. APPLICABILITY OF DEFINITIONS. The definitions in Chapter 101, Family Code, apply to terms used in this chapter.

Sec. 137.002 [265.001]. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "At-risk family" means a family with at least one child or a pregnant woman and at least one of the following:

(A) a child in the family has been the subject of an investigation of abuse, neglect, or exploitation by the Department of Family and Protective Services;

(B) the family or a pregnant woman in the family is experiencing conditions that increase the likelihood of involvement with the child welfare system, the criminal justice system, or the juvenile justice system; or

(C) the family or a pregnant woman in the family is experiencing other conditions that threaten the self-sufficiency or stability of the family or the birth or health of a baby ["Department" means the Department of Family and Protective Services].

(2) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services Commission ["Division" means the prevention and early intervention services division within the department].

(3) "Executive commissioner" means the executive commissioner of the commission.

(4) "Family support ["Prevention and early intervention] services" means programs intended to provide [early] intervention and promote safety and stability for children and at-risk families [or prevent at-risk behaviors that lead to child abuse, delinquency, running away, truancy, and dropping out of school].

Sec. 137.003 [265.002]. FAMILY SUPPORT [PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION] SERVICES [DIVISION]. (a) The commission [department] shall:

(1) administer grants and contracts [operate a division] to provide family support services to [for] children and [in] at-risk [situations and for the] families;

(2) [of those children and to achieve the consolidation of prevention and early intervention services within the jurisdiction of a single agency in order to avoid fragmentation and duplication of services and to increase the accountability for the delivery and administration of these services. The division shall be called the prevention and early intervention services division and shall have the following duties:

[(1) to] plan, develop, and administer an integrated continuum of care system of programs providing family support services to at-risk families [a comprehensive and unified delivery system of prevention and early intervention services to children and their families in at-risk situations];

(3) administer the referral, coordination, and collaboration of family support services under this chapter with similar, existing programs the commission operates;

(4) [(2) to] improve the responsiveness of family support services provided to [for at-risk] children and at-risk [their] families by facilitating greater coordination and flexibility in the use of funds by state and local service providers;

(5) [(3) to] provide greater accountability for family support [prevention and early intervention] services in order to demonstrate the impact or public benefit of a program by adopting outcome measures; and

(6) [(4) to] assist local communities in the coordination and development of family support [prevention and early intervention] services in order to maximize federal, state, and local resources.

(b) Family support services under this chapter are intended to:

(1) promote healthy outcomes and strengthen support systems for children and at-risk families;

(2) assist at-risk families in achieving self-sufficiency and stability;

(3) promote workforce participation; and

(4) prevent or reduce at-risk behaviors in children and at-risk families, including behaviors that may lead to:

(A) child abuse or neglect;

(B) delinquency, running away, truancy, dropping out of school, or substance use; or

(C) involvement with the child welfare system, the juvenile justice system, or the criminal justice system [The department's prevention and early intervention services division must be organizationally separate from the department's divisions performing child protective services and adult protective services functions].

Sec. 137.004 [265.003]. COORDINATION [CONSOLIDATION] OF PROGRAMS. [(a)] In order to implement the duties provided in Section 137.003 [265.002], the commission [department] shall identify and coordinate with other [consolidate into the division] programs the commission operates with the goal of providing family support services [early intervention or prevention of at-risk behavior that leads to child abuse, delinquency, running away, truancy, and dropping out of school].

[(b) The division may provide additional prevention and early intervention services in accordance with Section 265.002.

[Sec. 265.004. USE OF EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS FOR AT-RISK FAMILIES. (a) To the extent that money is appropriated for the purpose, the department shall fund evidence-based programs, including parenting education, home visitation, family support services, mentoring, positive youth development programs, and crisis counseling, offered by community-based organizations that are designed to prevent or ameliorate child abuse and neglect. The programs funded under this subsection may be offered by a child welfare board established under Section 264.005, a local governmental board granted the powers and duties of a child welfare board under state law, a children's advocacy center established under Section 264.402, or other persons determined appropriate by the department.

[(a-1) The department shall ensure that not less than 75 percent of the money appropriated for parenting education programs under Subsection (a) funds evidence-based programs or practices described by Section 265.151(b) and that the remainder of that money funds promising programs or practices described by Section 265.151(c) or evidence-informed programs or practices described by Section 265.151(d).

[(a-2) The department shall actively seek and apply for any available federal funds to support parenting education programs provided under this section.

[(b) The department shall place priority on programs that target children whose race or ethnicity is disproportionately represented in the child protective services system.

[(c) The department shall periodically evaluate the evidence-based abuse and neglect prevention programs to determine the continued effectiveness of the programs.

[Sec. 265.0041. COLLABORATION WITH INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. (a) Subject to the availability of funds, the Health and Human Services Commission, on behalf of the department, shall enter into agreements with institutions of higher education to conduct efficacy reviews of any prevention and early intervention programs that have not previously been evaluated for effectiveness through a scientific research evaluation process.

[(b) Subject to the availability of funds, the department shall collaborate with an institution of higher education to create and track indicators of child well-being to determine the effectiveness of prevention and early intervention services.]

Sec. 137.005 [265.005]. STRATEGIC PLAN. (a) The commission [department] shall develop and implement a five-year strategic plan for family support [prevention and early intervention] services. Not later than September 1 of the last fiscal year in each five-year period, the commission [department] shall issue a new strategic plan for the next five fiscal years beginning with the following fiscal year.

(b) A strategic plan required under this section must:

(1) identify methods to leverage other sources of funding or provide support for existing community-based [prevention] efforts to provide family support services;

(2) include a needs assessment that identifies programs to best target family support services to the needs of underserved [the highest risk] populations and geographic areas;

(3) identify [the goals and] priorities and specific commission actions to coordinate and provide family support services to children and at-risk families [for the department's overall prevention efforts];

(4) identify and report on specific outcome measurements by obtaining and reporting de-identified aggregate data, as permitted by other law, on the number of program participants who are:

(A) involved in the child welfare system, the juvenile justice system, or the criminal justice system;

(B) recipients of other services the commission offers; or

(C) listed in the central registry of the names of individuals found to have abused or neglected a child maintained under Section 261.002, Family Code [report the results of previous prevention efforts using available information in the plan];

(5) identify additional methods of measuring program effectiveness and results or outcomes;

(6) identify methods to collaborate with other state agencies on [prevention] efforts to provide family support services;

(7) identify specific strategies to implement the plan and to develop measures for reporting on the overall progress toward the plan's goals;

(8) [identify strategies and goals for increasing the number of families receiving prevention and early intervention services each year, subject to the availability of funds, to reach targets set by the department for providing services to families that are eligible to receive services through parental education, family support, and community-based programs financed with federal, state, local, or private resources; and

[(9)] identify specific strategies to increase local capacity for the delivery of family support [prevention and early intervention] services through collaboration with communities and stakeholders;

(9) address methods for coordinating with other commission programs under Section 137.004; and

(10) identify strategies to minimize the disruption of the provision of family support services to children and families.

(c) The commission [department] shall coordinate with interested parties and communities in developing the strategic plan under this section.

(d) The commission [department] shall annually review and appropriately update the strategic plan developed under this section.

(e) The commission [department] shall post the strategic plan developed under this section and any update to the plan on its Internet website.

[Sec. 265.006. PROHIBITION ON USE OF AGENCY NAME OR LOGO. The department may not allow the use of the department's name or identifying logo or insignia on forms or other materials related to the department's prevention and early intervention services that are:

[(1) provided by the department's contractors; or

[(2) distributed by the department's contractors to the department's clients.

[Sec. 265.007. IMPROVING PROVISION OF PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES. (a) 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 strategies for community partners to:

[(A) improve the early recognition of child abuse or neglect;

[(B) improve the reporting of child abuse and neglect; and

[(C) reduce child fatalities.

[(b) The department may not use data gathered under this section to identify a specific family or individual.

[Sec. 265.008. EVALUATION OF PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES. (a) The department may enter into agreements with institutions of higher education to conduct efficacy reviews of any prevention and early intervention services provided under this chapter that have not previously been evaluated for effectiveness in a research evaluation. The efficacy review shall include, when possible, a cost-benefit analysis of the program to the state and, when applicable, the return on investment of the program to the state.

[(b) The department may not enter into an agreement to conduct a program efficacy evaluation under this section unless:

[(1) the agreement with the institution of higher education is cost neutral; and

[(2) the department and institution of higher education conducting the evaluation under this section protect the identity of individuals who are receiving services from the department that are being evaluated.]

SUBCHAPTER B. FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAMS FOR CHILD ABUSE AND

NEGLECT [PRIMARY] PREVENTION [PROGRAMS]

Sec. 137.051 [265.051]. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Child abuse and neglect prevention" means family support services designed to prevent child abuse and neglect before the abuse or neglect occurs. The term includes child fatality prevention education programs and other activities directed at the general public to stop child abuse and neglect.

(2) "Children's trust fund" means a child abuse and neglect [primary] prevention program.

[(2) "Primary prevention" means services and activities available to the community at large or to families to prevent child abuse and neglect before it occurs. The term includes infant mortality prevention education programs.]

(3) "Operating fund" means the commission's [Department of Family and Protective Services] child abuse and neglect prevention operating fund account.

(4) "State agency" means a board, commission, department, office, or other state agency that:

(A) is in the executive branch of the state government;

(B) was created by the constitution or a statute of this state; and

(C) has statewide jurisdiction.

(5) "Trust fund" means the commission's child abuse and neglect prevention trust fund account.

Sec. 137.052 [265.052]. CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT [PRIMARY] PREVENTION PROGRAMS. (a) The commission [department] shall operate the children's trust fund to:

(1) set policy, offer resources for community [primary] prevention programs, and provide information and education on family support services and prevention of child abuse and neglect;

(2) develop a state plan for expending funds for child abuse and neglect [primary] prevention programs that includes an annual schedule of transfers of trust fund money to the operating fund;

(3) develop eligibility criteria for applicants requesting funding for child abuse and neglect [primary] prevention programs; and

(4) establish funding priorities for child abuse and neglect [primary] prevention programs.

(b) The children's trust fund shall accommodate the commission's [department's] existing rules and policies in procuring, awarding, and monitoring contracts and grants.

(c) The commission [department] may:

(1) apply for and receive funds made available by the federal government or another public or private source for administering programs under this subchapter and for funding for child abuse and neglect [primary] prevention programs; and

(2) solicit donations for child abuse and neglect [primary] prevention programs.

Sec. 137.053 [265.053]. ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER COSTS. (a) Administrative costs under this subchapter during any fiscal year may not exceed an amount equal to 50 percent of the interest credited to the trust fund during the preceding fiscal year.

(b) Funds expended under a special project grant from a governmental source or a nongovernmental source for public education or public awareness may not be counted as administrative costs for the purposes of this section.

Sec. 137.054 [265.054]. CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PREVENTION TRUST FUND ACCOUNT. (a) The child abuse and neglect prevention trust fund account is an account in the general revenue fund. Money in the trust fund is dedicated to child abuse and neglect [primary] prevention programs and family support services programs.

(b) The commission [department] may transfer money contained in the trust fund to the operating fund at any time. However, during a fiscal year the commission [department] may not transfer more than the amount appropriated for the operating fund for that fiscal year. Money transferred to the operating fund that was originally deposited to the credit of the trust fund under Section 118.022, Local Government Code, may be used only for child abuse and neglect [primary] prevention programs.

(c) Interest earned on the trust fund shall be credited to the trust fund.

(d) The trust fund is exempt from the application of Section 403.095, Government Code.

(e) All marriage license fees and other fees collected for and deposited in the trust fund and interest earned on the trust fund balance shall be appropriated each biennium only to the operating fund for child abuse and neglect [primary] prevention programs and family support services programs.

Sec. 137.055 [265.055]. COMMISSION [DEPARTMENT] OPERATING FUND ACCOUNT. (a) The operating fund is an account in the general revenue fund.

(b) Administrative and other costs allowed in Section 137.053 [265.053] shall be taken from the operating fund. The commission [department] may transfer funds contained in the operating fund to the trust fund at any time.

(c) The legislature may appropriate the money in the operating fund to carry out the provisions of this subchapter.

(d) The operating fund is exempt from the application of Section 403.095, Government Code.

[Sec. 265.056. CONTRIBUTIONS. (a) The department may solicit contributions from any appropriate source.

[(b) Any other contributions for child abuse and neglect primary prevention or other prevention and early intervention programs shall be deposited into a separate designated fund in the state treasury and shall be used for that designated purpose.

[(c) A person may contribute funds to either the trust fund, the operating fund, or a fund designated by the department for a specific child abuse and neglect primary prevention or other prevention or early intervention purpose.

[(d) If a person designates that a contribution is intended as a donation to a specific fund, the contribution shall be deposited in the designated fund.]

Sec. 137.056 [265.057]. COMMUNITY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT GRANTS. (a) Subject to available funding, the commission [department] shall award community youth development grants to communities identified by incidence of crime. The commission [department] shall give priority in awarding grants under this section to areas of the state in which there is a high incidence of juvenile crime.

(b) The purpose of a grant under this section is to assist a community in alleviating conditions in the family and community that lead to juvenile crime.

SUBCHAPTER C. NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM

Sec. 137.101 [265.101]. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Competitive grant program" means the nurse-family partnership competitive grant program established under this subchapter.

(2) "Partnership program" means a nurse-family partnership program.

Sec. 137.102 [265.102]. OPERATION OF NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The commission [department] shall operate a nurse-family partnership competitive grant program for [through which] the commission to [department will] award grants for the implementation of nurse-family partnership programs, or the expansion of existing programs, and for the operation of those programs for a period of not less than two years.

(b) The commission [department] shall award grants under the program to applicants, including applicants operating existing programs, in a manner that ensures that the partnership programs collectively[:

[(1)] operate in multiple communities that are geographically distributed throughout this state[; and

[(2) provide program services to approximately 2,000 families].

Sec. 137.103 [265.103]. PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. A partnership program funded through a grant awarded under this subchapter must:

(1) strictly adhere to the program model developed by the Nurse-Family Partnership National Service Office, including any clinical, programmatic, and data collection requirements of that model;

(2) require that registered nurses regularly visit the homes of low-income, first-time mothers participating in the program to provide services designed to:

(A) improve pregnancy outcomes;

(B) improve child health and development;

(C) improve family economic self-sufficiency and stability; [and]

(D) reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect; and

(E) increase workforce participation;

(3) require that nurses who provide services through the program:

(A) receive training from the office of the attorney general at least once each year on procedures by which a person may voluntarily acknowledge the paternity of a child and on the availability of child support services from the office;

(B) provide a mother with information about the rights, responsibilities, and benefits of establishing the paternity of her child, if appropriate;

(C) provide assistance to a mother and the alleged father of her child if the mother and alleged father seek to voluntarily acknowledge paternity of the child, if appropriate; and

(D) provide information to a mother about the availability of child support services from the office of the attorney general; and

(4) require that the regular nurse visits described by Subdivision (2) begin not later than a mother's 28th week of gestation and end when her child reaches two years of age.

Sec. 137.104 [265.104]. APPLICATION. (a) A public or private entity, including a county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state, may apply for a grant under this subchapter.

(b) To apply for a grant, an applicant must submit a written application to the commission [department] on a form prescribed by the commission [department] in consultation with the Nurse-Family Partnership National Service Office.

(c) The application [prescribed by the department] must:

(1) require the applicant to provide data on the number of low-income, first-time mothers residing in the community in which the applicant proposes to operate or expand a partnership program and provide a description of existing services available to those mothers;

(2) describe the ongoing monitoring and evaluation process to which a grant recipient is subject under Section 137.107 [265.109], including the recipient's obligation to collect and provide information requested by the commission [department] under Section 137.107(c) [265.109(c)]; and

(3) require the applicant to provide other relevant information as determined by the commission [department].

[Sec. 265.105. ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS IN AWARDING GRANTS. In addition to the factors described by Sections 265.102(b) and 265.103, in determining whether to award a grant to an applicant under this subchapter, the department shall consider:

[(1) the demonstrated need for a partnership program in the community in which the applicant proposes to operate or expand the program, which may be determined by considering:

[(A) the poverty rate, the crime rate, the number of births to Medicaid recipients, the rate of poor birth outcomes, and the incidence of child abuse and neglect during a prescribed period in the community; and

[(B) the need to enhance school readiness in the community;

[(2) the applicant's ability to participate in ongoing monitoring and performance evaluations under Section 265.109, including the applicant's ability to collect and provide information requested by the department under Section 265.109(c);

[(3) the applicant's ability to adhere to the partnership program standards adopted under Section 265.106;

[(4) the applicant's ability to develop broad-based community support for implementing or expanding a partnership program, as applicable; and

[(5) the applicant's history of developing and sustaining innovative, high-quality programs that meet the needs of families and communities.]

Sec. 137.105 [265.106]. PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM STANDARDS. The executive commissioner[, with the assistance of the Nurse-Family Partnership National Service Office,] shall adopt standards for the partnership programs funded under this subchapter. The standards must be consistent with [adhere to] the Nurse-Family Partnership National Service Office program model standards and guidelines that were developed in multiple, randomized clinical trials and have been tested and replicated in multiple communities.

Sec. 137.106 [265.107]. USE OF AWARDED GRANT FUNDS. The grant funds awarded under this subchapter may be used only to cover costs related to implementing or expanding and operating a partnership program, including costs related to:

(1) administering the program;

(2) training and managing registered nurses who participate in the program;

(3) paying the salaries and expenses of registered nurses who participate in the program;

(4) paying for facilities and equipment for the program; and

(5) paying for services provided by the Nurse-Family Partnership National Service Office to ensure a grant recipient adheres to the organization's program model.

[Sec. 265.108. STATE NURSE CONSULTANT. Using money appropriated for the competitive grant program, the department shall hire or contract with a state nurse consultant to assist grant recipients with implementing or expanding and operating the partnership programs in the applicable communities.]

Sec. 137.107 [265.109]. PROGRAM MONITORING AND EVALUATION; ANNUAL COMMITTEE REPORTS. (a) The commission [department, with the assistance of the Nurse-Family Partnership National Service Office,] shall:

(1) adopt performance indicators that are designed to measure a grant recipient's performance with respect to the partnership program standards adopted by the executive commissioner under Section 137.105 [265.106];

(2) use the performance indicators to continuously monitor and formally evaluate on an annual basis the performance of each grant recipient; and

(3) prepare and submit an annual report, not later than December 1 of each year, to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, or its successor, and the House Human Services Committee, or its successor, regarding the performance of each grant recipient during the preceding state fiscal year with respect to providing partnership program services.

(b) The report required under Subsection (a)(3) must include:

(1) the number of:

(A) low-income, first-time mothers to whom each grant recipient provided partnership program services and, of that number, the number of mothers who established the paternity of an alleged father as a result of services provided under the program;

(B) mothers who married the father or reside in the same household with the father;

(C) mothers who have previous involvement with the child welfare system, the criminal justice system, or the juvenile justice system; and

(D) mothers who receive other services from the commission;

(2) the extent to which each grant recipient made regular visits to mothers during the period described by Section 137.103(4) [265.103(4)]; and

(3) the extent to which each grant recipient adhered to the Nurse-Family Partnership National Service Office's program model, including the extent to which registered nurses:

(A) conducted home visitations comparable in frequency, duration, and content to those delivered in Nurse-Family Partnership National Service Office clinical trials; and

(B) assessed the health and well-being of mothers and children participating in the partnership programs in accordance with indicators of maternal, child, and family health defined by the [department in consultation with the] Nurse-Family Partnership National Service Office and required by the commission.

(c) On request, each grant recipient shall timely collect and provide data and any other information required by the commission [department] to monitor and evaluate the recipient or to prepare the report required by this section.

Sec. 137.108 [265.110]. COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM FUNDING. (a) The commission [department] shall actively seek and apply for any available federal funds, including federal Medicaid and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds, to assist in financing the competitive grant program established under this subchapter.

(b) The commission [department] may use appropriated funds from the state government and may accept gifts, donations, and grants of money from the federal government, local governments, private corporations, or other persons to assist in financing the competitive grant program.

SECTION 3. Sections 265.152, 265.153, 265.154, and 265.155, Family Code, are transferred to Subchapter B, Chapter 137, Human Resources Code, as redesignated by this Act, redesignated as Sections 137.057, 137.058, 137.059, and 137.060, Human Resources Code, respectively, and amended to read as follows:

Sec. 137.057 [265.152]. OUTCOMES OF FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES [EVIDENCE-BASED PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION] PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES. The commission [department] shall ensure that a family support services [prevention and early intervention] program or practice provided under this subchapter achieves favorable behavioral outcomes in at least two of the following areas:

(1) improved cognitive development of children;

(2) increased readiness for and participation and performance in school;

(3) reduced child abuse, neglect, and injury;

(4) improved child safety;

(5) improved social-emotional development of children and youth;

(6) increased protective factors, including nurturing, bonding, and other parenting skills;

(7) improved family economic self-sufficiency;

(8) reduced parental or youth involvement with the criminal justice system; and

(9) increased paternal involvement and support.

Sec. 137.058 [265.153]. EVALUATION OF FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES [PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION] PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES. (a) The commission [department] shall adopt outcome indicators to measure the effectiveness of family support services [prevention and early intervention] programs and practices provided under this subchapter in achieving desired outcomes.

(b) The commission [department] may work directly with the model developer of a family support services [prevention and early intervention] program or practice to identify appropriate outcome indicators for the program or practice and to ensure that the program or practice substantially complies with the model.

(c) The commission [department] shall develop internal processes to share information with family support services [prevention and early intervention service] providers to assist the commission [department] in analyzing the performance of the programs or practices.

(d) The commission [department] shall use information obtained under this section to:

(1) monitor family support services [prevention and early intervention] programs and practices;

(2) continually improve the quality of the programs and practices; and

(3) evaluate the effectiveness of the programs and practices.

Sec. 137.059 [265.154]. REPORTS TO LEGISLATURE. (a) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, the commission [department] shall prepare and submit a report on state-funded prevention and early intervention programs and practices to the standing committees of the senate and house of representatives with jurisdiction over child protective services.

(b) A report submitted under this section must meet any requirements set by the commission under this subchapter [include:

[(1) a description of the prevention and early intervention programs and practices implemented and of the models associated with the programs and practices;

[(2) information on the families served by the programs and practices, including the number of families served and their demographic information;

[(3) the goals and achieved outcomes of the implemented programs and practices;

[(4) information on the cost for each family served, including any available third-party return-on-investment analysis; and

[(5) information explaining the percentage of money spent on evidence-based programs and practices, on promising programs and practices, and on evidence-informed programs and practices].

Sec. 137.060 [265.155]. RULES. The executive commissioner [of the department] may adopt rules as necessary to implement this subchapter.

SECTION 4. Subchapter D, Chapter 264, Family Code, is transferred to Chapter 137, Human Resources Code, as added by this Act, redesignated as Subchapter D, Chapter 137, Human Resources Code, and amended to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER D. SERVICES FOR [TO] AT-RISK YOUTH

Sec. 137.151 [264.301]. SERVICES FOR AT-RISK YOUTH. (a) The commission [department] shall operate a program to provide family support services for children in at-risk situations and for the families of those children.

(b) The services under this section may include:

(1) crisis family intervention;

(2) emergency short-term residential care;

(3) family counseling;

(4) parenting skills training;

(5) youth coping skills training;

(6) mentoring; and

(7) advocacy training.

Sec. 137.152 [264.302]. EARLY YOUTH INTERVENTION SERVICES. (a) This section applies to a child who:

(1) is seven years of age or older and under 17 years of age; and

(2) has not had the disabilities of minority for general purposes removed under Chapter 31, Family Code.

(b) The commission [department] shall operate a program under this section to provide family support services for children in at-risk situations and for the families of those children.

(c) The commission [department] may not provide services under this section to a child who has:

(1) at any time been referred to juvenile court for engaging in conduct that violates a penal law of this state of the grade of felony other than a state jail felony; or

(2) been found to have engaged in delinquent conduct under Title 3, Family Code.

(d) The commission [department] may provide services under this section to a child who engages in conduct for which the child may be found by a court to be an at-risk child, without regard to whether the conduct violates a penal law of this state of the grade of felony other than a state jail felony, if the child was younger than 10 years of age at the time the child engaged in the conduct.

(e) The commission [department] shall provide services for a child and the child's family if a contract to provide services under this section is available in the county and the child is referred to the commission [department] as an at-risk child by:

(1) a juvenile court or probation department as part of a progressive sanctions program under Chapter 59, Family Code;

(2) a law enforcement officer or agency under Section 52.03, Family Code; or

(3) a justice or municipal court under Article 45.057, Code of Criminal Procedure.

(f) The services under this section may include:

(1) crisis family intervention;

(2) emergency short-term residential care for children 10 years of age or older;

(3) family counseling;

(4) parenting skills training;

(5) youth coping skills training;

(6) advocacy training; and

(7) mentoring.

SECTION 5. Chapter 53, Human Resources Code, is transferred to Chapter 137, Human Resources Code, as added by this Act, redesignated as Subchapter E, Chapter 137, Human Resources Code, and amended to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER E [CHAPTER 53]. PREVENTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERANS AND

MILITARY FAMILIES

Sec. 137.201 [53.001]. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter, "veteran" [chapter:

[(1) "Department" means the Department of Family and Protective Services.

[(2) "Veteran"] means a person who has served in:

(1) [(A)] the army, navy, air force, coast guard, or marine corps of the United States;

(2) [(B)] the state military forces as defined by Section 431.001, Government Code; or

(3) [(C)] an auxiliary service of one of those branches of the armed forces.

Sec. 137.202 [53.002]. VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES PREVENTIVE SERVICES PROGRAM. (a) The commission [department] shall develop and implement a preventive services program to serve veterans and military families who have committed or experienced or who are at a high risk of:

(1) family violence; or

(2) abuse or neglect.

(b) The program must:

(1) be designed to coordinate with community-based organizations to provide prevention services;

(2) include a prevention component and an early intervention component;

(3) include collaboration with services for child welfare, services for early childhood education, and other child and family services programs; and

(4) coordinate with the community collaboration initiative developed under Subchapter I, Chapter 434, Government Code, and committees formed by local communities as part of that initiative.

[(c) The program must be established initially as a pilot program in areas of the state in which the department considers the implementation practicable. The department shall evaluate the outcomes of the pilot program and ensure that the program is producing positive results before implementing the program throughout the state.

[(d) The department shall evaluate the program and prepare an annual report on the outcomes of the program. The department shall publish the report on the department's Internet website.]

SECTION 6. Subchapter X, Chapter 531, Government Code, is transferred to Chapter 137, Human Resources Code, as added by this Act, and redesignated as Subchapter F, Chapter 137, Human Resources Code, to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER F [X]. TEXAS HOME VISITING PROGRAM

Sec. 137.251 [531.981]. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Home visiting program" means a voluntary-enrollment program in which early childhood and health professionals such as nurses, social workers, or trained and supervised paraprofessionals repeatedly visit over a period of at least six months the homes of pregnant women or families with children under the age of six who are born with or exposed to one or more risk factors.

(2) "Risk factors" means factors that make a child more likely to experience adverse experiences leading to negative consequences, including preterm birth, poverty, low parental education, having a teenaged mother or father, poor maternal health, and parental underemployment or unemployment.

Sec. 137.252 [531.982]. IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXAS HOME VISITING PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall maintain a strategic plan to serve at-risk pregnant women and families with children under the age of six through home visiting programs that improve outcomes for parents and families.

(b) A pregnant woman or family is considered at-risk for purposes of this section and may be eligible for voluntary enrollment in a home visiting program if the woman or family is exposed to one or more risk factors.

(c) The commission may determine if a risk factor or combination of risk factors experienced by an at-risk pregnant woman or family qualifies the woman or family for enrollment in a home visiting program.

Sec. 137.253 [531.983]. TYPES OF HOME VISITING PROGRAMS. (a) A home visiting program is classified as either an evidence-based program or a promising practice program.

(b) An evidence-based program is a home visiting program that:

(1) is research-based and grounded in relevant, empirically based knowledge and program-determined outcomes;

(2) is associated with a national organization, institution of higher education, or national or state public health institute;

(3) has comprehensive standards that ensure high-quality service delivery and continuously improving quality;

(4) has demonstrated significant positive short-term and long-term outcomes;

(5) has been evaluated by at least one rigorous randomized controlled research trial across heterogeneous populations or communities, the results of at least one of which has been published in a peer-reviewed journal;

(6) follows with fidelity a program manual or design that specifies the purpose, outcomes, duration, and frequency of the services that constitute the program;

(7) employs well-trained and competent staff and provides continual relevant professional development opportunities;

(8) demonstrates strong links to other community-based services; and

(9) ensures compliance with home visiting standards.

(c) A promising practice program is a home visiting program that:

(1) has an active impact evaluation program or can demonstrate a timeline for implementing an active impact evaluation program;

(2) has been evaluated by at least one outcome-based study demonstrating effectiveness or a randomized controlled trial in a homogeneous sample;

(3) follows with fidelity a program manual or design that specifies the purpose, outcomes, duration, and frequency of the services that constitute the program;

(4) employs well-trained and competent staff and provides continual relevant professional development opportunities;

(5) demonstrates strong links to other community-based services; and

(6) ensures compliance with home visiting standards.

Sec. 137.254 [531.984]. FUNDING. (a) The commission shall ensure that at least 75 percent of funds appropriated for home visiting programs are used in evidence-based programs, with any remaining funds dedicated to promising practice programs.

(b) The commission shall actively seek and apply for any available federal funds to support home visiting programs, including federal funds from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

(c) The commission may accept gifts, donations, and grants to support home visiting programs.

Sec. 137.255 [531.985]. OUTCOMES. The commission shall ensure that a home visiting program achieves favorable outcomes in at least two of the following areas:

(1) improved maternal or child health outcomes;

(2) improved cognitive development of children;

(3) increased school readiness of children;

(4) reduced child abuse, neglect, and injury;

(5) improved child safety;

(6) improved social-emotional development of children;

(7) improved parenting skills, including nurturing and bonding;

(8) improved family economic self-sufficiency;

(9) reduced parental involvement with the criminal justice system; and

(10) increased father involvement and support.

Sec. 137.256 [531.986]. EVALUATION OF HOME VISITING PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall adopt outcome indicators to measure the effectiveness of a home visiting program in achieving desired outcomes.

(b) The commission may work directly with the model developer of a home visiting program to identify appropriate outcome indicators for the program and to ensure that the program demonstrates fidelity to its research model.

(c) The commission shall develop internal processes to work with home visiting programs to share data and information to aid in making relevant analysis of the performance of a home visiting program.

(d) The commission shall use data gathered under this section to monitor, conduct ongoing quality improvement on, and evaluate the effectiveness of home visiting programs.

Sec. 137.257 [531.9871]. REPORTS TO LEGISLATURE. (a) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, the commission shall prepare and submit a report on state-funded home visiting programs to the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services and the House Human Services Committee or their successors.

(b) A report submitted under this section must include:

(1) a description of home visiting programs being implemented and the associated models;

(2) data on the number of families being served and their demographic information;

(3) the goals and achieved outcomes of home visiting programs;

(4) data on cost per family served, including third-party return-on-investment analysis, if available; and

(5) data explaining what percentage of funding has been used on evidence-based programs and what percentage of funding has been used on promising practice programs.

Sec. 137.258 [531.988]. RULES. The executive commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to implement this subchapter.

SECTION 7. Article 45.057(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows:

(b) On a finding by a justice or municipal court that a child committed an offense that the court has jurisdiction of under Article 4.11 or 4.14, the court has jurisdiction to enter an order:

(1) referring the child or the child's parent for services under Section 137.152, Human Resources Code [264.302, Family Code];

(2) requiring that the child attend a special program that the court determines to be in the best interest of the child and, if the program involves the expenditure of municipal or county funds, that is approved by the governing body of the municipality or county commissioners court, as applicable, including a rehabilitation, counseling, self-esteem and leadership, work and job skills training, job interviewing and work preparation, self-improvement, parenting, manners, violence avoidance, tutoring, sensitivity training, parental responsibility, community service, restitution, advocacy, or mentoring program; or

(3) requiring that the child's parent do any act or refrain from doing any act that the court determines will increase the likelihood that the child will comply with the orders of the court and that is reasonable and necessary for the welfare of the child, including:

(A) attend a parenting class or parental responsibility program; and

(B) attend the child's school classes or functions.

SECTION 8. Section 52.03(c), Family Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c) A disposition authorized by this section may involve:

(1) referral of the child to an agency other than the juvenile court;

(2) a brief conference with the child and his parent, guardian, or custodian; or

(3) referral of the child and the child's parent, guardian, or custodian for services under Section 137.152, Human Resources Code [264.302].

SECTION 9. Section 59.004(a), Family Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) For a child at sanction level one, the juvenile court or probation department may:

(1) require counseling for the child regarding the child's conduct;

(2) inform the child of the progressive sanctions that may be imposed on the child if the child continues to engage in delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision;

(3) inform the child's parents or guardians of the parents' or guardians' responsibility to impose reasonable restrictions on the child to prevent the conduct from recurring;

(4) provide information or other assistance to the child or the child's parents or guardians in securing needed social services;

(5) require the child or the child's parents or guardians to participate in a program for services under Section 137.152, Human Resources Code [264.302], if a program under Section 137.152 [264.302] is available to the child or the child's parents or guardians;

(6) refer the child to a community-based citizen intervention program approved by the juvenile court;

(7) release the child to the child's parents or guardians; and

(8) require the child to attend and successfully complete an educational program described by Section 37.218, Education Code, or another equivalent educational program.

SECTION 10. Section 59.005(a), Family Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) For a child at sanction level two, the juvenile court, the prosecuting attorney, or the probation department may, as provided by Section 53.03:

(1) place the child on deferred prosecution for not less than three months or more than six months;

(2) require the child to make restitution to the victim of the child's conduct or perform community service restitution appropriate to the nature and degree of harm caused and according to the child's ability;

(3) require the child's parents or guardians to identify restrictions the parents or guardians will impose on the child's activities and requirements the parents or guardians will set for the child's behavior;

(4) provide the information required under Sections 59.004(a)(2) and (4);

(5) require the child or the child's parents or guardians to participate in a program for services under Section 137.152, Human Resources Code [264.302], if a program under Section 137.152 [264.302] is available to the child or the child's parents or guardians;

(6) refer the child to a community-based citizen intervention program approved by the juvenile court; and

(7) if appropriate, impose additional conditions of probation.

SECTION 11. Section 261.002, Family Code, is amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

(d) The department shall provide the Health and Human Services Commission with access to the central registry as necessary for the commission to perform its duties under Section 137.005, Human Resources Code.

SECTION 12. Subchapter A, Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 531.0045 to read as follows:

Sec. 531.0045. LIMIT ON SUNSET REVIEW. The Sunset Advisory Commission's review of the Health and Human Services Commission under Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act) during the period in which state agencies abolished in 2027 are reviewed may not include a review of the family support services programs transferred to the commission under Chapter 137, Human Resources Code, or the Thriving Texas Families Program established under Chapter 54, Health and Safety Code. This section expires September 1, 2027.

SECTION 13. Section 40.0025(b), Human Resources Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) In accordance with Subchapter A-1, Chapter 531, Government Code, and notwithstanding any other law, the department performs only functions, including the statewide intake of reports and other information, related to the following services:

(1) child protective services, including services that are required by federal law to be provided by this state's child welfare agency;

(2) adult protective services, other than investigations of the alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an elderly person or person with a disability:

(A) in a facility operated, or in a facility or by a person licensed, certified, or registered, by a state agency; or

(B) by a provider that has contracted to provide home and community-based services; and

(3) family support [prevention and early intervention] services functions, including:

(A) family support [prevention and early intervention] services as defined under Section 137.002 [265.001, Family Code]; and

(B) programs that:

(i) provide parent education;

(ii) promote healthier parent-child relationships; or

(iii) prevent family violence.

SECTION 14. Subtitle B, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Chapter 54 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 54. THRIVING TEXAS FAMILIES PROGRAM

Sec. 54.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Abortion" has the meaning assigned by Section 245.002.

(2) "Network contractor" means a person who contracts with the commission to provide or coordinate the provision of services under this chapter.

Sec. 54.002. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The commission shall establish the Thriving Texas Families Program as a continuation of the alternatives to abortion program to facilitate the operation of a statewide support network that provides community outreach, consultation, and care coordination for women with an unexpected pregnancy.

(b) The Thriving Texas Families Program shall:

(1) promote healthy pregnancy and childbirth;

(2) promote childbirth as an alternative to abortion;

(3) increase access to resources that promote family and child development;

(4) encourage family formation;

(5) help parents establish and implement successful parenting techniques;

(6) increase the number of families who achieve economic self-sufficiency; and

(7) provide a local approach and personalized support to pregnant women to promote childbirth in all instances of pregnancy.

(c) The commission shall contract with network contractors to establish a statewide network of service providers, including pregnancy support centers, adoption assistance providers, and maternity homes, to provide the services described by Section 54.003. The commission may contract with the service providers to provide the services in accordance with this chapter.

(d) In developing the statewide network of service providers, the commission shall, to the extent practicable, contract with providers who have a history of working with the commission in programs similar to the program created by this chapter.

Sec. 54.003. SERVICES. (a) Using the network contractors described under Section 54.002, the commission shall ensure that services described by this chapter are available throughout this state.

(b) Services provided through the program include:

(1) counseling and mentoring on pregnancy, education, parenting skills, adoption services, life skills, and employment readiness topics;

(2) care coordination for prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal services, including connecting participants to health services;

(3) educational materials and information about pregnancy, parenting, and adoption services;

(4) referrals to governmental and social service programs, including child care, transportation, housing, and state and federal benefit programs;

(5) classes on life skills, personal finance, parenthood, stress management, job training, job readiness, job placement, and educational attainment;

(6) provision of supplies for infant care and pregnancy, including car seats, cribs, maternity clothes, infant diapers, and formula; and

(7) housing services.

(c) A service provider participating in the program may not be required to provide all services listed under Subsection (b).

(d) A network contractor may provide housing services under Subsection (b)(7) through a maternity home.

(e) The commission or network contractors may not provide family planning services through the network.

Sec. 54.004. ELIGIBILITY. Program services are available to a resident of this state who is:

(1) a pregnant woman;

(2) the biological father of an unborn child;

(3) the biological parent of a child who is 36 months of age or younger;

(4) an adoptive parent of a child who is 36 months of age or younger;

(5) an approved adoptive parent of an unborn child;

(6) a former participant who has experienced the loss of a child;

(7) a parent or legal guardian of a pregnant minor who is a program client;

(8) the parent, legal guardian, or adult caregiver of a child who is 36 months of age or younger; and

(9) a parent who experienced a miscarriage or loss of a child not more than 90 days before the parent begins participation in the services offered through the program.

Sec. 54.005. PROVISION OF SERVICES. (a) The commission and its network contractors shall contract with service providers to assess the needs of the participants and implement a plan to provide services to address the participants' most critical needs.

(b) A service provider participating in the program may refer a program client to a service provider not participating in the program for medical services otherwise covered by the program. Services received through a referral under this subsection may not be paid for using program funds.

Sec. 54.006. PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES. (a) The commission and its network contractors may contract only with service providers whose performance outcomes include:

(1) improving healthy pregnancy and childbirth outcomes;

(2) improving child health and development;

(3) assisting families in achieving economic self-sufficiency and stability;

(4) increasing workforce participation; or

(5) promoting marriage and family formation for participating parents.

(b) The commission shall identify indicators to measure the performance outcomes under Subsection (a) and require periodic reporting on the outcomes by network contractors and participating service providers.

Sec. 54.007. IMPACT EVALUATION. (a) The commission shall periodically conduct impact evaluations to measure the effects of services on participants receiving services through the program and to report on measured performance outcomes.

(b) The commission shall contract with an external third party to perform impact evaluations under this chapter.

(c) The commission shall select the impact evaluator through a competitive bidding process. The evaluator must have a demonstrated history in evaluating social services programs using an integrated holistic impact approach and data modeling.

(d) The commission may not enter into an interagency agreement to conduct an evaluation under this section.

Sec. 54.008. REPORTS; AUDITS. (a) The commission shall compile reports provided by network contractors and service providers under Section 54.006 and audit a sampling of the reports to ensure validity.

(b) The commission shall annually issue a report that includes:

(1) the total number of network contractors and service providers, sorted by geographical region served;

(2) the total number of individuals served by each provider, sorted by age and sex;

(3) the total amount of expenditures, sorted by method of finance;

(4) the value of the contracts with each network contractor and service provider;

(5) any outcome measures reported to the commission by network contractors and service providers;

(6) any performance outcomes reported to the commission under Section 54.006; and

(7) the results of any impact evaluation conducted under Section 54.007.

Sec. 54.009. RULES. (a) The executive commissioner may adopt rules to implement this chapter.

(b) The executive commissioner may not adopt a rule that violates Chapter 110, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, or Chapter 45, Human Resources Code.

Sec. 54.010. PROHIBITED CONTRACT TERMS. A contract under this chapter may not include a provision that violates Chapter 110, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, or Chapter 45, Human Resources Code.

Sec. 54.011. FUNDING. (a) The commission shall, to the greatest extent possible, seek private funding to supplement and match funding provided through the program.

(b) The commission or a service provider may not:

(1) use funding provided through the program to perform, induce, assist, or refer an abortion; or

(2) grant funds to an abortion provider or an affiliate of an abortion provider.

(c) The commission may not use more than three percent of funding allocated to the program to:

(1) administer the program; and

(2) procure evaluator services under Section 54.007.

SECTION 15. Section 118.022(b), Local Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) The comptroller shall deposit the money received under Subsection (a)(1) to the credit of the child abuse and neglect prevention trust fund account established under Section 137.054 [40.105], Human Resources Code.

SECTION 16. (a) On September 1, 2024, all powers, duties, functions, programs, employees, administrative support services, contracts, property, records, and other resources necessary to comply with this Act are transferred from the Department of Family and Protective Services to the Health and Human Services Commission, including the operating fund and trust fund under Subchapter B, Chapter 137, Human Resources Code, as amended by this Act.

(b) The Health and Human Services Commission shall, not later than September 1, 2025, develop and implement its initial five-year strategic plan under Section 137.005, Human Resources Code, as amended by this Act. The initial plan must additionally include plans to develop and implement the system of family support programs under Section 137.003(a)(2), Human Resources Code, as amended by this Act.

(c) The Department of Family and Protective Services and the Health and Human Services Commission shall ensure that children and families receiving services under Chapter 265, Family Code, on the effective date of this Act continue to receive services with minimal disruption as the programs are transferred to the commission.

SECTION 17. The following provisions of the Family Code are repealed:

(1) the heading to Chapter 265;

(2) the heading to Subchapter D, Chapter 265; and

(3) Section 265.151.

SECTION 18. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 24 passed the Senate on March 27, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 23, Nays 7; and that the Senate concurred in House amendments on May 25, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 24, Nays 7.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 24 passed the House, with amendments, on May 22, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 124, Nays 22, one present not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

Approved:

______________________________

Date

______________________________

Governor