By: Parker, Zerwas, Miller, H.B. No. 4183
Thompson of Harris, Sanford, et al.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to addressing adverse childhood experiences and
developing a strategic plan to address those experiences.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 531.0222 to read as follows:
Sec. 531.0222. COORDINATION TO ADDRESS ADVERSE CHILDHOOD
EXPERIENCES; PROGRESS REPORT AND STRATEGIC PLAN. (a) In this
section, "adverse childhood experience" includes:
(1) abuse as defined by Section 261.001, Family Code;
(2) neglect as defined by Section 261.001, Family
Code;
(3) family violence as defined by Section 71.004,
Family Code;
(4) death of a parent;
(5) parental separation or divorce; and
(6) substance use disorder, mental illness, or
incarceration of a member of a child's household.
(b) A program, service, or support established under this
section may not include sex education.
(c) In order to reduce exposure of children in this state to
adverse childhood experiences and to address the social, health,
and economic impacts of those experiences, the commission, in
collaboration with the Department of Family and Protective
Services, the Department of State Health Services, the Texas
Education Agency, the Texas Workforce Commission, the office of the
attorney general, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, and an
institution of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003,
Education Code, with expertise in addressing adverse childhood
experiences through a public health framework shall:
(1) analyze data related to the causes and effects of
adverse childhood experiences, including data from the Behavioral
Risk Factor Surveillance System established by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention of the United States Public Health
Service;
(2) evaluate prevention needs and gaps in services and
support regarding awareness, assessments, and interventions
addressing adverse childhood experiences;
(3) identify methods to incorporate best practices for
preventing and treating adverse childhood experiences into
existing services and support programs offered for children and
families; and
(4) develop and implement a five-year strategic plan
to prevent and address adverse childhood experiences.
(d) In developing the five-year strategic plan under
Subsection (c)(4), the commission may collaborate with
representatives of:
(1) state and local agencies and nonprofit
organizations that work directly with children and families;
(2) child welfare services providers;
(3) early childhood education programs;
(4) public schools;
(5) medical and mental health services providers;
(6) family support and social services providers;
(7) the law enforcement, judicial, and criminal
justice communities;
(8) faith-based organizations;
(9) the intellectual or developmental disability
community;
(10) families and children impacted by adverse
childhood experiences; and
(11) the business and philanthropic communities.
(e) The strategic plan must incorporate a public health
approach that promotes collaboration between agencies and
community-based providers. The strategic plan may include
strategies to:
(1) train and educate professionals to assess,
intervene, and prevent adverse childhood experiences;
(2) provide trauma-informed practices for families,
children, and providers impacted by adverse childhood experiences;
(3) provide high quality child care;
(4) provide support to parents to develop social and
economic independence;
(5) provide support to strengthen the engagement of
fathers in their children's lives and establish paternity;
(6) incorporate voluntary, evidence-based home
visiting programs to strengthen families and to connect families to
community resources;
(7) develop parental support programs for teen parents
and young mothers;
(8) develop parental education training and
counseling programs;
(9) identify best practices for child protective
services and investigations;
(10) prevent and treat mental illness and substance
use disorder;
(11) prevent
family violence; and
(12) prevent chronic diseases related to adverse
childhood experiences.
(f) The entities listed in Subsection (c) shall develop a
community awareness approach to implement the strategies and
recommendations in the strategic plan required under Subsection
(c)(4).
(g) The entities listed in Subsection (c) shall publish the
five-year strategic plan required by Subsection (c)(4) on their
respective Internet websites.
SECTION 2. Not later than March 1, 2020, the Health and
Human Services Commission shall develop a progress report to
include data, best practices, and implementable changes within the
commission's current capacity.
SECTION 3. Not later than December 31, 2020, the Health and
Human Services Commission shall:
(1) develop the five-year strategic plan required by
Section 531.0222(c)(4), Government Code, as added by this Act; and
(2) submit a report to the Senate Health and Human
Services Committee, the Senate Education Committee, the Senate
Criminal Justice Committee, the House Public Education Committee,
the House Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committee, the House
Public Health Committee, and the House Human Services Committee
regarding the commission's strategies for preventing and treating
adverse childhood experiences and any plan to incorporate those
strategies into existing services and support programs for children
and families.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.