85R10981 JG-F
By: White H.B. No. 4228
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a memorandum of understanding between certain state
agencies related to training of employees and contractors who
provide certain services to children and families.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 533.0415(a), (d), and (e), Health and
Safety Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) The executive commissioner, the Texas Juvenile Justice
Department, and the Texas Education Agency by rule shall adopt a
joint memorandum of understanding to develop interagency training
for individuals employed or contracted by [the staffs of] the
department, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, the Department
of Family and Protective Services, and the Texas Education Agency
who are involved in the functions of assessment, case planning,
case management, and in-home or direct delivery of services to
children, youth, and their families under this title. The
memorandum must:
(1) outline the responsibility of each agency in
coordinating, [and] developing, and implementing a plan for
interagency training on effective [individualized] assessment,
[and effective] intervention, and treatment services that are
individualized and provided in the least restrictive environment
appropriate for children and [dysfunctional] families; [and]
(2) identify the available training programs
administered by the state agencies identified by this subsection
and the eligibility requirements for those programs; and
(3) provide for the establishment of an interagency
work group [task force] to identify:
(A) common training needs for individuals
employed or contracted by the state agencies identified by this
subsection [develop a training program to include identified
competencies, content, and hours for completion of the training
with at least 20 hours of training required each year until the
program is completed]; and
(B) existing training and technical assistance
resources, including web-based resources, available across the
state agencies identified by this subsection that can be used to the
greatest extent possible for the implementation of the plan
described by Subdivision (1) [design a plan for implementing the
program, including regional site selection, frequency of training,
and selection of experienced clinical public and private
professionals or consultants to lead the training; and
[(C) monitor, evaluate, and revise the training
program, including the development of additional curricula based on
future training needs identified by staff and professionals].
(d) The appropriate division of the commission designated
by the commission shall act as the lead state agency in coordinating
the development and implementation of the memorandum.
(e) The executive commissioner and the state agencies
identified by Subsection (a) shall review and by rule revise the
memorandum not later than August of each odd-numbered year.
SECTION 2. Sections 533.0415(b) and (c), Health and Safety
Code, are repealed.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.