Texas 2011 - 82nd Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1154 Compare Versions

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1	1	By: Uresti S.B. No. 1154
2	2	(McClendon)
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to a task force for the development of a strategy to reduce
8	8	child abuse and neglect and improve child welfare.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Chapter 264, Family Code, is amended by adding
11	11	Subchapter H-1 to read as follows:
12	12	SUBCHAPTER H-1. TASK FORCE TO REDUCE CHILD ABUSE AND
13	13	NEGLECT AND IMPROVE CHILD WELFARE
14	14	Sec. 264.721. ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE. A task force is
15	15	established under this subchapter to develop a strategy to reduce
16	16	child abuse and neglect and improve child welfare.
17	17	Sec. 264.722. TASK FORCE. (a) The task force consists of
18	18	nine members appointed as follows:
19	19	(1) seven members appointed by the governor, two of
20	20	whom must be appointed from a list of candidates submitted by the
21	21	speaker of the house of representatives; and
22	22	(2) two members appointed by the lieutenant governor.
23	23	(b) Members of the task force must be individuals who:
24	24	(1) are actively involved in the prevention of child
25	25	abuse and neglect and the improvement of child welfare; and
26	26	(2) represent a diversity of backgrounds.
27	27	(c) Appointments to the task force shall be made without
28	28	regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or
29	29	national origin of the appointee.
30	30	(d) A task force member is not entitled to compensation for
31	31	service on the task force but is entitled to reimbursement for
32	32	travel expenses as provided by Chapter 660, Government Code, and
33	33	the General Appropriations Act.
34	34	(e) The task force shall elect a presiding officer by a
35	35	majority vote of the membership of the task force.
36	36	(f) The task force shall meet at the call of the presiding
37	37	officer.
38	38	(g) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the
39	39	task force.
40	40	Sec. 264.723. TASK FORCE DUTIES. (a) The task force shall
41	41	identify:
42	42	(1) all existing programs in the state relating to
43	43	reducing child abuse and neglect or improving child welfare; and
44	44	(2) the programs described by Subdivision (1) that
45	45	receive state money.
46	46	(b) The task force shall establish a strategy for reducing
47	47	child abuse and neglect and for improving child welfare in this
48	48	state. In establishing that strategy, the task force shall:
49	49	(1) gather information concerning child safety, child
50	50	abuse and neglect, and child welfare throughout the state;
51	51	(2) receive reports and testimony from individuals,
52	52	state and local agencies, community-based organizations, and other
53	53	public and private organizations;
54	54	(3) create goals for state policy that would improve
55	55	child safety, prevent child abuse and neglect, and improve child
56	56	welfare;
57	57	(4) review and revise the strategic plan to accomplish
58	58	those goals submitted by a previous task force; and
59	59	(5) submit the revised strategic plan.
60	60	(c) The revised strategic plan submitted under Subsection
61	61	(b) may include proposals for specific statutory changes, the
62	62	creation of new programs, and methods to foster cooperation among
63	63	state agencies and between the state and local governments.
64	64	Sec. 264.724. SUPPORT AGENCY DUTIES. The department, the
65	65	Department of State Health Services, the Texas Department of
66	66	Criminal Justice, the Texas Youth Commission, the Texas Juvenile
67	67	Probation Commission, The University of Texas System, and The Texas
68	68	A&M University System shall:
69	69	(1) provide administrative support services to the
70	70	task force;
71	71	(2) coordinate administrative responsibilities with
72	72	the task force to avoid unnecessary duplication of duties;
73	73	(3) share equally the costs of the task force,
74	74	including reimbursement for travel expenses, administrative
75	75	expenses, and the costs of publishing the task force's strategic
76	76	plan; and
77	77	(4) each designate a person to serve as the agency
78	78	liaison with the task force.
79	79	Sec. 264.725. CONSULTATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES; PRIVATE
80	80	FOUNDATIONS. (a) The task force shall consult with employees of
81	81	the department, the Department of State Health Services, the Texas
82	82	Department of Criminal Justice, the Texas Youth Commission, the
83	83	Texas Juvenile Probation Commission, The University of Texas
84	84	System, and The Texas A&M University System as necessary to
85	85	accomplish the task force's responsibilities under this
86	86	subchapter.
87	87	(b) The task force shall cooperate as necessary with any
88	88	other state agency.
89	89	(c) The task force may consult with private foundations that
90	90	have made a substantial commitment to the prevention of child abuse
91	91	in this state to accomplish the task force's responsibilities under
92	92	this chapter.
93	93	Sec. 264.726. FUNDING; ACCOUNT. (a) The task force shall
94	94	review the funding strategies for the task force and develop
95	95	proposals for expanding the sources of funds available to finance
96	96	the activities of the task force.
97	97	(b) The task force may accept gifts and grants from
98	98	individuals or private or public organizations and accept federal
99	99	and local funds to support the task force.
100	100	(c) The child abuse reduction task force account is an
101	101	account in the general revenue fund. Money in the account may be
102	102	appropriated only to the task force for the purposes of this
103	103	subchapter. The child abuse reduction task force account is exempt
104	104	from the application of Section 403.095, Government Code. The
105	105	account consists of:
106	106	(1) gifts and grants to the task force;
107	107	(2) money received by the task force from the federal,
108	108	state, or local government; and
109	109	(3) notwithstanding Section 404.071, Government Code,
110	110	all interest attributable to money held in the account.
111	111	Sec. 264.727. SUBMISSION OF PLAN. Not later than December
112	112	1, 2012, the task force shall submit the strategic plan required by
113	113	Section 264.723 to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker
114	114	of the house of representatives.
115	115	Sec. 264.728. EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and
116	116	this subchapter expires September 1, 2013.
117	117	SECTION 2. The governor and lieutenant governor shall
118	118	appoint the members of the task force as required by Section
119	119	264.722, Family Code, as added by this Act, not later than October
120	120	1, 2011.
121	121	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
122	122	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
123	123	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
124	124	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
125	125	Act takes effect September 1, 2011.