| 1 | 1 | | By: Watson S.B. No. 1290 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 5 | 5 | | AN ACT |
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| 6 | 6 | | relating to information for foster children who are pregnant or |
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| 7 | 7 | | minor parents. |
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| 8 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 9 | 9 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is |
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| 10 | 10 | | amended by adding Section 264.130 to read as follows: |
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| 11 | 11 | | Sec. 264.130. PREGNANCY AND PARENTING INFORMATION. The |
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| 12 | 12 | | department at developmentally appropriate stages shall ensure to |
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| 13 | 13 | | children in the managing conservatorship of the department who are |
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| 14 | 14 | | pregnant or who are minor parents receive information on and |
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| 15 | 15 | | support in providing safe environments for children, including |
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| 16 | 16 | | information and support regarding: |
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| 17 | 17 | | (1) safe sleeping arrangements; |
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| 18 | 18 | | (2) suggestions for childproofing potentially |
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| 19 | 19 | | dangerous settings in a home; |
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| 20 | 20 | | (3) child development and methods to cope with |
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| 21 | 21 | | challenging behaviors; |
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| 22 | 22 | | (4) selection of appropriate substitute caregivers; |
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| 23 | 23 | | (5) a child's early brain development, including the |
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| 24 | 24 | | importance of meeting an infant's developmental needs by providing |
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| 25 | 25 | | positive experiences and avoiding adverse experiences; |
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| 26 | 26 | | (6) the importance of paternal involvement in a |
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| 27 | 27 | | child's life and methods for co-parenting; |
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| 28 | 28 | | (7) the benefits of reading, talking, and singing to |
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| 29 | 29 | | young children; |
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| 30 | 30 | | (8) the importance of prenatal and postpartum care for |
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| 31 | 31 | | both the mother and infant including the impact of and signs for |
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| 32 | 32 | | perinatal mood disorders; |
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| 33 | 33 | | (9) family planning counseling to postpone unplanned |
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| 34 | 34 | | subsequent pregnancies; |
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| 35 | 35 | | (11) infant nutrition and the importance of |
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| 36 | 36 | | breastfeeding; and |
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| 37 | 37 | | (12) healthy relationships, including the prevention |
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| 38 | 38 | | of intimate partner violence. |
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| 39 | 39 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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