| 1 | 1 | | 84R8175 MK-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Naishtat H.B. No. 2140 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the creation by the Department of Family and Protective |
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| 8 | 8 | | Services of positions and organizations to facilitate the provision |
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| 9 | 9 | | of services to foster youth. |
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| 10 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 11 | 11 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code, |
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| 12 | 12 | | is amended by adding Sections 40.075 and 40.076 to read as follows: |
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| 13 | 13 | | Sec. 40.075. YOUTH SPECIALISTS. (a) The department shall |
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| 14 | 14 | | designate an employee in each department region and one employee at |
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| 15 | 15 | | the state level to manage and coordinate regional outreach to |
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| 16 | 16 | | foster youth and assist the department in developing services, |
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| 17 | 17 | | policies, and procedures for foster youth. |
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| 18 | 18 | | (b) In addition to the duties described in Subsection (a), |
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| 19 | 19 | | each regional-level employee designated by the department under |
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| 20 | 20 | | Subsection (a) shall: |
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| 21 | 21 | | (1) assist foster youth in understanding the foster |
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| 22 | 22 | | children's bill of rights developed under Section 263.008, Family |
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| 23 | 23 | | Code, and ensure that the foster children's bill of rights is posted |
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| 24 | 24 | | in all facilities for foster youth licensed by the department; |
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| 25 | 25 | | (2) administer an annual survey of foster youth 10 |
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| 26 | 26 | | years of age or older and younger than 23 years of age to collect |
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| 27 | 27 | | information related to foster placements and the services provided |
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| 28 | 28 | | in foster placements; |
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| 29 | 29 | | (3) coordinate and facilitate the operation of the |
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| 30 | 30 | | regional youth leadership councils established under Section |
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| 31 | 31 | | 40.076; and |
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| 32 | 32 | | (4) create and coordinate leadership opportunities |
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| 33 | 33 | | for foster youth. |
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| 34 | 34 | | (c) The department shall include the results of the survey |
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| 35 | 35 | | administered under Subsection (b)(2) in the department's annual |
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| 36 | 36 | | report. |
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| 37 | 37 | | (d) In addition to the duties described in Subsection (a), |
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| 38 | 38 | | the state-level employee designated by the department under |
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| 39 | 39 | | Subsection (a) shall: |
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| 40 | 40 | | (1) oversee the activities of the regional-level |
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| 41 | 41 | | employees designated by the department under Subsection (a); and |
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| 42 | 42 | | (2) organize and facilitate the operation of the state |
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| 43 | 43 | | youth leadership council established under Section 40.076. |
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| 44 | 44 | | Sec. 40.076. YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCILS. (a) The department |
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| 45 | 45 | | shall establish a youth leadership council in each department |
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| 46 | 46 | | region of the state. Each regional youth leadership council shall: |
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| 47 | 47 | | (1) be composed of current and former foster youth; |
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| 48 | 48 | | and |
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| 49 | 49 | | (2) meet monthly to discuss department policies and |
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| 50 | 50 | | any other subject the members of the council consider to be |
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| 51 | 51 | | appropriate. |
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| 52 | 52 | | (b) The department shall establish a state youth leadership |
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| 53 | 53 | | council. The state youth leadership council shall: |
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| 54 | 54 | | (1) be composed of two members from each regional |
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| 55 | 55 | | youth leadership council in the state; and |
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| 56 | 56 | | (2) meet quarterly to: |
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| 57 | 57 | | (A) collaborate with the department to develop a |
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| 58 | 58 | | formal consumer engagement plan, including strategies for engaging |
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| 59 | 59 | | youth and young adults in foster care in the development of |
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| 60 | 60 | | department programs, policies, and practices; |
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| 61 | 61 | | (B) review all changes to department policies and |
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| 62 | 62 | | procedures that impact foster youth, before implementation of the |
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| 63 | 63 | | changes; |
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| 64 | 64 | | (C) compose and deliver a biennial report to the |
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| 65 | 65 | | legislature containing: |
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| 66 | 66 | | (i) a description of the activities of the |
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| 67 | 67 | | regional youth leadership councils; |
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| 68 | 68 | | (ii) a briefing on current issues facing |
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| 69 | 69 | | foster youth transitioning to independent living; |
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| 70 | 70 | | (iii) a summary of relevant data published |
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| 71 | 71 | | by the department relating to older foster youth; and |
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| 72 | 72 | | (iv) recommendations for improvements to |
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| 73 | 73 | | department policies and practices; and |
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| 74 | 74 | | (D) perform any other duties that the members of |
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| 75 | 75 | | the council believe are necessary or appropriate. |
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| 76 | 76 | | (c) The department must seek input from the state youth |
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| 77 | 77 | | leadership council before the department implements a change to any |
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| 78 | 78 | | policy or procedure that impacts children in foster care. |
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| 79 | 79 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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