By: Gonzáles, et al. (Senate Sponsor - West) H.B. No. 77
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 13, 2015;
April 21, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on Health
and Human Services; May 22, 2015, reported adversely, with
favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays
0; May 22, 2015, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 77 By: Zaffirini
COMMITTEE VOTE
YeaNayAbsentPNV
SchwertnerX
KolkhorstX
CampbellX
EstesX
PerryX
RodríguezX
TaylorofCollinX
UrestiX
ZaffiriniX
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study of the Dallas Men Against Abuse program and
other activities in the Dallas community addressing family
violence.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
Commission.
(2) "Program" means the Dallas Men Against Abuse
program implemented by the City of Dallas.
SECTION 2. STUDY REQUIRED. (a) The Health and Human
Services Commission, in conjunction with a statewide coalition on
family violence, shall conduct a study of activities in the Dallas
community addressing family violence, with a specific focus on each
aspect of the Dallas Men Against Abuse program, to determine if any
or all of those activities or program aspects should be implemented
at the state level or in additional local communities or school
districts.
(b) In conducting the study, the commission and the
statewide coalition on family violence shall consult with:
(1) the City of Dallas Domestic Violence Task Force;
and
(2) a researcher with expertise on family violence who
is affiliated with an institution of higher education in this
state.
SECTION 3. CONTENTS OF STUDY. The study must:
(1) examine each aspect of the program;
(2) evaluate the effectiveness of each aspect of the
program and the effectiveness of other community activities that
contributed to changes in community responses to family violence,
based on indicators developed in consultation with family violence
experts, including the statewide coalition on family violence
conducting the study in conjunction with the commission and the
researcher described by Section 2(b)(2) of this Act;
(3) evaluate the effectiveness of the program in
increasing male involvement in addressing family violence;
(4) incorporate background information, such as the
number of calls made to domestic violence hotlines, the number of
prosecutions of offenses involving family violence, and the number
of charges filed in family violence cases, to provide context for
the issue of family violence in the Dallas community and this state;
(5) assess the costs associated with the program and
other community activities addressing family violence and sources
of funding;
(6) determine the feasibility of implementing any or
all of the program aspects or other community activities addressing
family violence at the state level or in additional local
communities or school districts; and
(7) make recommendations to the legislature regarding
implementing any or all of the program aspects or other community
activities addressing family violence at the state level or in
additional local communities or school districts.
SECTION 4. AGENCY PARTICIPATION AND COOPERATION. At the
request of the commission, the Department of Family and Protective
Services and each other health and human services agency under the
authority of the commission shall participate in the study and
provide appropriate assistance. The Texas Education Agency shall
cooperate with the commission as necessary to enable the commission
to assess the feasibility of implementing any or all of the program
aspects or other community activities addressing family violence in
school districts.
SECTION 5. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2016, the
commission shall submit a report to the legislature regarding the
results of the study and the commission's recommendations regarding
expanded implementation of any or all program aspects or other
community activities addressing family violence.
SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. 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, 2015.
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