By: Villarreal, et al. H.B. No. 824
(Senate Sponsor - Van de Putte)
(In the Senate - Received from the House March 31, 2011;
April 13, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on Health
and Human Services; May 11, 2011, reported favorably by the
following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 11, 2011, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an outreach campaign to promote fathers' involvement
with their children before birth.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 32, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 32.0211 to read as follows:
Sec. 32.0211. WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN PROGRAM OUTREACH
CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE FATHERS' INVOLVEMENT. (a) The attorney general
shall:
(1) subject to Subsections (b) and (c), develop and
periodically update a publication that:
(A) describes the importance and long-term
positive effects on children of a father's involvement during a
mother's pregnancy; and
(B) provides guidance to prospective fathers on
the positive actions that they can take to support the pregnant
mother during pregnancy and the effect those actions have on
pregnancy outcomes; and
(2) make the publication described by Subdivision (1)
available to any agency, organization, or other entity that
contracts with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for
Women, Infants and Children and on the attorney general's Internet
website in a format that allows the public to download and print the
publication.
(b) The publication developed by the attorney general under
Subsection (a) must include:
(1) information regarding the steps that unmarried
parents must take if the parents want to establish legal paternity
and the benefits of paternity establishment for children;
(2) a worksheet to help fathers identify personal risk
behaviors, including smoking, substance abuse, and unemployment;
(3) information regarding how a father's personal risk
behaviors may affect the father's child and a guide to resources
that are available to the father to assist in making necessary
lifestyle changes;
(4) information for fathers about the mother's
prenatal health, including the emotional and physical changes a
mother will experience throughout pregnancy, the mother's
nutritional needs, and an explanation of how the father may help the
mother meet those needs;
(5) an explanation of prenatal health care visits,
including an explanation of what they are and what to expect, and
the practical ways a father may support the mother throughout
pregnancy;
(6) information regarding a child's prenatal health,
including the child's developmental stages, the importance of
attending prenatal health care visits, the practical ways a father
may contribute to healthy baby outcomes, and actions the father may
take to prepare for the birth of a child;
(7) an explanation regarding prenatal tests,
including an explanation of what the tests are and what tests to
expect;
(8) basic infant care information, including:
(A) information regarding the basics of
dressing, diapering, bathing, consoling, and stimulating an
infant;
(B) health and safety issues, including issues
relating to nutritional information, sleep needs and expectations,
baby-proofing a home, and what to expect at the first well-child
visits; and
(C) information on bonding and attachment and how
each relates to an infant's development;
(9) healthy relationship and coparenting information,
including communication strategies, conflict resolution
strategies, and problem-solving techniques for coparenting;
(10) worksheets, activities, and exercises to aid
fathers and the couple in exploring the following topics:
(A) personal ideas about fatherhood and the role
of the father in the family system;
(B) the immediate and long-term benefits of
father involvement specific to their family; and
(C) perceived barriers to father involvement and
strategies for overcoming those barriers; and
(11) activities and projects for fathers that increase
the fathers' understanding of the stages of child developmental and
health and safety issues.
(c) In developing the publication required by Subsection
(a), the attorney general shall consult with:
(1) the department as the state agency responsible for
administering the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for
Women, Infants and Children and this state's program under the
Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C.
Section 701 et seq.); and
(2) the Texas Council on Family Violence.
(d) An agency, organization, or other entity that contracts
with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants
and Children shall make the publication described by Subsection (a)
available to each client receiving clinical or nutritional services
under the program.
SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Section 32.0211(d), Health and
Safety Code, as added by this Act, the Department of State Health
Services and an agency, organization, or other entity providing
services under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for
Women, Infants and Children are not required to comply with that
section until the attorney general makes the publication available
as described by Section 32.0211(a)(2), Health and Safety Code, as
added by this Act.
SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act
a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
waiver or authorization is granted.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
* * * * *