86R9039 SCL-D
By: Watson S.B. No. 951
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the family first prevention
services task force.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "task force" means the
family first prevention services task force established under this
section.
(b) The family first prevention services task force is
established for the purpose of assessing the readiness of this
state in implementing Title VII, Div. E, Pub. L. No. 115-123 by
2021.
(c) The task force is composed of at least 19 members
appointed by the commissioner of the Department of Family and
Protective Services as follows:
(1) the commissioner of family and protective
services;
(2) the assistant commissioner of child protective
services;
(3) the assistant commissioner of prevention and early
intervention services;
(4) the medical director of the department;
(5) a representative from a single source continuum
contractor;
(6) a representative of a child-placing agency in this
state with experience in managing a residential treatment center;
(7) a representative of court-appointed volunteer
advocates;
(8) a judge of a court that hears suits affecting the
parent-child relationship;
(9) an attorney ad litem with experience in
court-ordered representation of children and youth in the
conservatorship of the department;
(10) an advocate for foster children and youth who is
not employed by or under contract with the department;
(11) a representative of the legislature;
(12) a representative of the Legislative Budget Board;
(13) a representative of the office of the comptroller
of public accounts;
(14) three advocates who are not employed by or under
contract with the department and who advocate for providing
services to families at risk of entering the foster care system,
including an advocate for the substance abuse treatment community,
an advocate for the mental health treatment community, and an
advocate with experience in providing services to pregnant and
parenting youth;
(15) an advocate with experience as a foster child;
(16) an advocate with experience as a parent in the
foster care system;
(17) an advocate with experience as a kinship
caregiver; and
(18) any other member of the department's executive
staff the commissioner considers necessary.
(d) The commissioner of family and protective services
serves as the presiding officer of the task force.
(e) A vacancy for an appointed member of the task force is
filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
(f) The task force shall meet at least quarterly at the call
of the presiding officer. The task force shall meet at other times
as determined by the presiding officer.
(g) The task force shall:
(1) evaluate and make recommendations on matters
related to the task force's purpose as described by Subsection (b)
of this section, including:
(A) the transformation of the placement of foster
children and youth from residential treatment centers to qualified
residential treatment providers and the process for certifying an
unaccredited residential treatment center;
(B) the total capacity of all foster care
placements in this state;
(C) the foster care prevention and early
intervention strategies currently available in this state;
(D) any issue that may arise in a suit affecting
the parent-child relationship for a child or youth in the
conservatorship of the department;
(E) any issue relating to families entering the
child protective services system; and
(F) methods for using federal and state money to
allow a greater number of children and youth to remain in their
homes while addressing safety concerns for the children and youth;
and
(2) examine the costs to this state and the private
sector and other issues related to the use of federal money
allocated or transferred under Title VII, Div. E, Pub. L. No.
115-123.
(h) The Department of Family and Protective Services shall
provide reasonably necessary administrative and technical support
to the task force.
(i) The task force shall prepare a written report that
includes:
(1) a description of the activities of the task force;
(2) the findings and recommendations of the task
force; and
(3) proposed legislation, recommendations, or
information on any other relevant matter that the task force
considers appropriate.
(j) Not later than January 1, 2021, the task force shall
submit the report described by Subsection (i) of this section to the
governor, the lieutenant governor, and each member of the
legislature.
(k) The task force is abolished and this section expires
June 1, 2021.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2019.