85R4594 MM-F
By: White, et al. H.B. No. 1522
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a task force to coordinate and make recommendations on
parent engagement and education programs provided by state
agencies.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter L-1 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER L-1. TASK FORCE ON PARENT ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION
PROGRAMS
Sec. 531.431. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "task force"
means the task force on parent engagement and education programs
established under Section 531.432.
Sec. 531.432. ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE. The task force
on parent engagement and education programs is established to:
(1) enhance coordination of parent engagement and
evidence-based parent education programs across state agencies;
and
(2) develop comprehensive, statewide best practices
for engaging parents as their children's first and best teachers.
Sec. 531.433. COMPOSITION OF TASK FORCE. The task force is
composed of nine members as follows:
(1) the executive commissioner;
(2) the commissioner of the Department of Family and
Protective Services;
(3) the executive director of the Texas Workforce
Commission;
(4) the commissioner of the Texas Education Agency;
(5) the executive director of the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice;
(6) the executive director of the Texas Juvenile
Justice Department;
(7) one representative of a county juvenile board or
juvenile probation department appointed by the presiding officer of
the task force;
(8) one representative of a faith-based organization
appointed by the presiding officer of the task force; and
(9) one person appointed by the presiding officer of
the task force who has experienced challenges meant to be addressed
by a parent engagement or education program.
Sec. 531.434. PRESIDING OFFICER. The executive
commissioner shall serve as presiding officer.
Sec. 531.435. VACANCY. A vacancy for an appointed member of
the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment.
Sec. 531.436. MEETINGS. The task force shall meet at least
quarterly at the call of the presiding officer. The task force
shall meet at other times as determined by the presiding officer.
Sec. 531.437. DUTIES. The task force shall:
(1) receive reports and testimony from individuals,
state and local governmental agencies, community-based
organizations, and other public and private organizations
regarding parent engagement and evidence-based parent education
programs;
(2) identify parent engagement and evidence-based
parent education programs that are being implemented in this state
and describe opportunities for improved coordination among those
programs to:
(A) maximize the programs' effectiveness and
funding; and
(B) align program outcomes; and
(3) develop policy and other recommendations for:
(A) expanding access to parent engagement and
evidence-based parent education programs;
(B) establishing comprehensive statewide best
practice guidelines for those programs; and
(C) establishing methods for using existing
administrative and program data to identify and target program
services to:
(i) appropriate parents in this state;
(ii) communities with the greatest need for
the program services; and
(iii) families exhibiting high levels of
risk factors, which include a preterm birth, poverty, having low
parent educational attainment, having one or more teenage parents,
having poor maternal health, and having parent unemployment or
underemployment.
Sec. 531.438. REPORT. (a) The task force shall prepare a
report that includes:
(1) a description of the activities of the task force;
(2) the findings and recommendations of the task
force, including recommendations described by Section 531.437(3);
and
(3) proposed legislation or recommendations or
information on any other relevant matter that the task force
considers appropriate.
(b) Not later than December 1, 2018, the task force shall
submit the report prepared under this section to the governor, the
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
and the presiding officers of the standing committees of the senate
and house of representatives having primary jurisdiction over
issues relating to parent engagement and education.
Sec. 531.439. RESPONSIBILITY OF COMMISSION. The commission
shall provide reasonably necessary administrative and technical
support to the task force.
Sec. 531.440. COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT. Appointed
members of the task force serve without compensation and may not be
reimbursed for travel or other expenses incurred while conducting
the business of the task force.
Sec. 531.441. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. Chapter 2110
does not apply to the task force.
Sec. 531.442. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The commission
may accept on behalf of the task force a gift, grant, or donation
from any source to carry out the purposes of this subchapter.
Sec. 531.443. EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and
this subchapter expires September 1, 2019.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
Services Commission shall appoint the members of the task force on
parent engagement and education programs as required by Sections
531.433(7), (8), and (9), Government Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. 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, 2017.