Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2330 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	85R12418 MM-D
2	2	By: Dukes, Minjarez H.B. No. 2330
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to information and services for foster children who are
8	8	pregnant or minor parents.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is
11	11	amended by adding Section 264.130 to read as follows:
12	12	Sec. 264.130. PREGNANCY AND PARENTING INFORMATION AND
13	13	SERVICES. (a) The department shall collect:
14	14	(1) information on the number of children in the
15	15	managing conservatorship of the department who are minor parents;
16	16	(2) information on the number of children in the
17	17	managing conservatorship of the department who are also the
18	18	children of minor parents as described by Subdivision (1); and
19	19	(3) with respect to each child who is a minor parent
20	20	and each child of a minor parent in the managing conservatorship of
21	21	the department, statistics regarding each child's:
22	22	(A) age;
23	23	(B) ethnicity;
24	24	(C) type of substitute care placement;
25	25	(D) county of residence; and
26	26	(E) length of time in substitute care.
27	27	(b) The department shall prepare an annual report on the
28	28	information collected under Subsection (a) and make the report
29	29	available on the department's Internet website. The report may not
30	30	include any individually identifiable information regarding a
31	31	minor parent or child who is the subject of information in the
32	32	report.
33	33	(c) The department at developmentally appropriate stages
34	34	shall provide to children in the managing conservatorship of the
35	35	department who are pregnant or who are minor parents information on
36	36	and support in providing safe environments for children, including
37	37	information and support regarding:
38	38	(1) safe sleeping arrangements;
39	39	(2) suggestions for childproofing potentially
40	40	dangerous settings in a home;
41	41	(3) methods to cope with crying infants;
42	42	(4) selection of appropriate substitute caregivers;
43	43	(5) a child's early brain development, including the
44	44	importance of meeting an infant's developmental needs by providing
45	45	positive experiences and avoiding adverse experiences;
46	46	(6) the importance of paternal involvement in a
47	47	child's life; and
48	48	(7) the benefits of reading and talking to young
49	49	children.
50	50	(d) The department shall provide parenting skills training
51	51	and other services, including depression screening services, to
52	52	children in the managing conservatorship of the department who are
53	53	pregnant or minor parents.
54	54	(e) The department shall appropriately recruit, prepare,
55	55	train, and support individuals, including foster parents,
56	56	substitute caregivers, and mentors, who work directly with children
57	57	in the managing conservatorship of the department who are pregnant
58	58	or minor parents to ensure the individuals provide the specialized
59	59	care and support needed by those children.
60	60	SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
61	61	of this Act, the Department of Family and Protective Services shall
62	62	collect the information, prepare the report, and provide the
63	63	services necessary to implement Section 264.130, Family Code, as
64	64	added by this Act.
65	65	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.