85R13086 MK-D
By: Burkett H.B. No. 3094
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the Prevention Advisory Board in the
Department of Family and Protective Services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code,
is amended by adding Section 40.078 to read as follows:
Sec. 40.078. PREVENTION ADVISORY BOARD. (a) In this
section, "board" means the Prevention Advisory Board.
(b) The board is established in the department to promote
public awareness and make recommendations to the Health and Human
Services Commission, the Department of State Health Services, the
department, the governor, and the legislature for changes to law,
policy, and practices regarding:
(1) the prevention of child abuse and neglect;
(2) the development of a state strategy to promote
child safety and well-being using enhanced data collection and
analysis; and
(3) the expansion of evidence-based and promising
practice programs, as those terms are described by Sections
531.983(b) and (c), Government Code.
(c) The board is composed of not more than 25 members,
appointed as follows:
(1) one member appointed by the governor from the
governor's staff;
(2) one member appointed by the lieutenant governor
from the lieutenant governor's staff;
(3) one member appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives from the speaker's staff;
(4) one staff member from the Senate Committee on
Health and Human Services;
(5) one staff member from the House Public Health
Committee; and
(6) any remaining members appointed by the
commissioner.
(d) The members appointed under Subsections (c)(1) through
(5) serve as ex officio nonvoting members of the board.
(e) In appointing members to the board, the commissioner
shall attempt to select individuals whose qualifications are not
already represented by existing members of the board. Board
members must include:
(1) a chair of a child fatality review team committee;
(2) a pediatrician;
(3) a judge;
(4) representatives of relevant state agencies;
(5) prosecutors who specialize in child abuse and
neglect;
(6) medical examiners;
(7) representatives of service providers to the
department; and
(8) policy experts in child abuse and neglect
prevention, community advocacy, or related fields.
(f) The board shall select a chair from among its members
and shall meet at least quarterly, with additional meetings called
by the chair as necessary.
(g) A vacancy on the board shall be filled in the same manner
as the original appointment.
(h) A member of the board is not entitled to compensation or
reimbursement of expenses incurred in performing board duties.
(i) The board may take testimony and receive evidence that
the board considers necessary to carry out the duties of the board.
(j) In developing the recommendations under Subsection (b),
the board shall collaborate with the prevention and early
intervention services division of the department to:
(1) use a public health approach by applying
population-based, universal, and targeted strategies for
prevention;
(2) consider the evidence-based and promising
practice programs for home visiting under Section 531.983,
Government Code, and parent education under Section 265.101, Family
Code, as added by Chapter 1257 (H.B. 2630), Acts of the 84th
Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, in structuring accountability
and evidence-based measures for child abuse and neglect fatality
prevention programming;
(3) maximize funding sources to expand prevention
programs, including federal and local government funds and private
funds; and
(4) research and make recommendations regarding the
training of external stakeholders, including the expansion of
mandated training for medical professionals, child-care workers,
educators, and higher education professionals with access to
minors, to improve the identification, recognition, reporting, and
prevention of child abuse and neglect.
(k) The board shall collaborate with the department and the
Department of State Health Services to develop and maintain a
database of the most effective state and national evidence-based or
promising practice programs that address child abuse and neglect
and the prevention of child abuse and neglect fatalities. The
database shall include the cost per family and a cost-benefit
analysis for each program.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.