87R13877 TYPED
By: Rose H.B. No. 4302
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the continuation of the MEDCARES grant program and
transfer of the oversight and administration of the program from
the Department of State Health Services to the Health and Human
Services Commission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 1001, Health and Safety
Code is hereby repealed.
SECTION 2. Section 261.005, Family Code, is amended to read
as follows:
Sec. 261.005. REFERENCE TO EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER OR
COMMISSION. Except as provided for in Subchapter G, [I]in this
chapter:
(1) a reference to the executive commissioner or the
executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission
means the commissioner of the department; and
(2) a reference to the Health and Human Services
Commission means the department.
SECTION 3. Subchapter G, Chapter 261, Family Code, is
enacted to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER G. TEXAS MEDICAL CHILD ABUSE RESOURCES AND EDUCATION
SYSTEM (MEDCARES)
Sec. 261.601. REFERENCE TO EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER OR
COMMISSION. In this Subchapter:
(1) a reference to the executive commissioner means
the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services
Commission; and
(2) a reference to the commission means the Health and
Human Services Commission.
Sec. 261.602 TEXAS MEDICAL CHILD ABUSE RESOURCES AND
EDUCATION SYSTEM GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall maintain
the Texas Medical Child Abuse Resources and Education System
(MEDCARES) grant program to award grants for the purpose of
developing and supporting regional programs to improve the
assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of child abuse and neglect as
described by the report submitted to the 80th Legislature by the
committee on pediatric centers of excellence relating to abuse and
neglect in accordance with Section 266.0031, Family Code, as added
by Chapter 1406 (S.B. 758), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2007.
(b) The commission may award grants to hospitals or academic
health centers with expertise in pediatric health care and a
demonstrated commitment to developing basic and advanced programs
and centers of excellence for the assessment, diagnosis, and
treatment of child abuse and neglect.
(c) The department shall encourage collaboration among
grant recipients in the development of program services and
activities.
Sec. 261.602. USE OF GRANT. A grant awarded under this
subchapter may be used to support:
(1) comprehensive medical evaluations, psychosocial
assessments, treatment services, and written and photographic
documentation of abuse;
(2) education and training for health professionals,
including physicians, medical students, resident physicians, child
abuse fellows, and nurses, relating to the assessment, diagnosis,
and treatment of child abuse and neglect;
(3) education and training for community agencies
involved with child abuse and neglect, law enforcement officials,
child protective services staff, and children's advocacy centers
involved with child abuse and neglect;
(4) medical case reviews and consultations and
testimony regarding those reviews and consultations;
(5) research, data collection, and quality assurance
activities, including the development of evidence-based guidelines
and protocols for the prevention, evaluation, and treatment of
child abuse and neglect;
(6) the use of telemedicine and other means to extend
services from regional programs into underserved areas; and
(7) other necessary activities, services, supplies,
facilities, and equipment as determined by the department.
Sec. 261.603. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The commission may solicit
and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or private
source for the purposes of this subchapter.
Sec. 261.604. REQUIRED REPORT. Not later than December 1 of
each even-numbered year, the commission shall submit a report to
the governor and the legislature regarding the grant activities of
the program and grant recipients, including the results and
outcomes of grants provided under this subchapter.
Sec. 261.605. RULES. The executive commissioner may adopt
rules as necessary to implement this subchapter.
Sec. 261.606. APPROPRIATION REQUIRED. The commission is
not required to award a grant under this subchapter unless the
commission is specifically appropriated money for purposes of this
subchapter.
SECTION 4. The administration and oversight activities of
the MEDCARES grant program is transferred from the Department of
State Health Services to the Health and Human Services Commission
as of the of the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.