88R9552 MM/PRL/LRM/MLH-D
By: Schatzline H.B. No. 4965
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to measures to promote and support responsible fatherhood
in this state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 29.9011 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.9011. JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICERS' TRAINING CORPS GRANT
PROGRAM. (a) The commissioner shall establish a pilot program
under which a public secondary school may receive a grant to create,
promote, or expand a Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
program.
(b) A public secondary school is eligible to participate in
and receive a grant under eligibility criteria established by the
commissioner.
(c) The commissioner shall establish application criteria
for receiving a grant under this section.
(d) A public secondary school that receives a grant shall
use the funds to create, promote, or expand a Junior Reserve
Officers' Training Corps program at the school.
(e) The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to
administer the pilot program under this section.
(f) After five years, the commissioner shall submit a report
to the governor and the legislature that includes:
(1) an assessment on the effectiveness of the pilot
program at increasing high school graduation rates; and
(2) a recommendation regarding whether the pilot
program should be continued, expanded, or terminated.
(g) This section expires September 1, 2029.
SECTION 2. Section 231.1211, Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 231.1211. INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS ON STANDARD
POSSESSION ORDER AND CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGOR RESOURCES. (a) The
Title IV-D agency shall create informational materials that
describe:
(1) the possession schedule under the standard
possession order under Subchapter F, Chapter 153, including any
alternate schedules or elections available to conservators; and
(2) resources available to assist child support
obligors experiencing difficulty with meeting their child support
obligations, including information:
(A) describing career or financial assistance
programs and services available to support unemployed or
underemployed child support obligors;
(B) explaining how to access those programs and
services; and
(C) detailing the process by which a child
support obligor may seek to modify the obligor's child support
obligation.
(b) The Title IV-D agency shall:
(1) make the informational materials described by
Subsection (a) available on the agency's Internet website and
distribute printed copies of those materials on request; and
(2) include information on how to access the
informational materials described by Subsection (a)(2) in any
notice given by the Title IV-D agency to a child support obligor who
is delinquent in the payment of child support.
SECTION 3. Subchapter B-1, Chapter 264, Family Code, is
amended by adding Section 264.1621 to read as follows:
Sec. 264.1621. FATHERHOOD ENGAGEMENT REPORTS. (a) Not
later than March 1, 2024, each single source continuum contractor
or other entity that contracts with the department to provide
community-based care services shall:
(1) evaluate the entity's level of engagement with
fathers;
(2) identify any gaps in service related to engagement
with fathers;
(3) identify viable solutions to resolve any gaps
identified under Subdivision (2); and
(4) report to the department regarding the entity's
findings under this subsection.
(b) Not later than September 1, 2024, the entity described
by Subsection (a) shall implement solutions to address any gaps in
service for fathers identified under Subsection (a)(2).
(c) The department shall:
(1) conduct a semiannual review of each entity
described by Subsection (a) to assess the entity's:
(A) implementation of a plan to address gaps in
service related to engagement with fathers; and
(B) ability to meet the needs of fathers in this
state;
(2) produce a report based on the department's review;
and
(3) make the report available to the public not later
than the 30th day after the date the department completes the
report.
SECTION 4. Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter H-1 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER H-1. PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT FATHERS
Sec. 531.291. RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD INITIATIVE. (a) In
this section, "initiative" means the Responsible Fatherhood
Initiative established under this section.
(b) The commission, after issuing a request for proposals
and conducting a transparent selection process, shall contract with
a nonprofit organization for the development and implementation of
the Responsible Fatherhood Initiative. The initiative must provide
an opportunity for every father in this state to obtain information
and inspiration that will motivate and enable him to enhance his
abilities as a father and recognize that some fathers have greater
challenges than others and would benefit from greater support.
(c) The initiative must include:
(1) an Internet website and other related electronic
resources that will allow a father to:
(A) obtain information about effective
parenting;
(B) identify areas in which support would enhance
the father's ability to be an effective father; and
(C) connect to the support identified under
Paragraph (B), including support provided by an organization
receiving a grant under Section 531.292;
(2) appropriate materials from the fatherhood media
campaign available through the National Responsible Fatherhood
Clearinghouse; and
(3) print, television, digital, and social media
elements and public events, including appearances by and
involvement from public figures.
(d) To contract with the commission under this section, a
nonprofit organization must be nonpartisan and nonpolitical and
have:
(1) a history of focusing on responsible fatherhood,
including providing online resources to fathers and engaging
fathers, father figures, and children through community-based and
school-based events to encourage responsible fatherhood; and
(2) the organizational capacity to manage a statewide
initiative and successfully carry out the requirements of this
section.
(e) The nonprofit organization with which the commission
contracts under this section shall collaborate with relevant state
agencies and private organizations to develop and implement the
initiative. The commission and other relevant state agencies shall
provide support to the organization as necessary to carry out the
initiative.
Sec. 531.292. GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE CERTAIN SUPPORT TO
FATHERS. (a) To the extent money is appropriated to the commission
for that purpose, the commission shall establish a program under
which the commission awards grants to community-based nonprofit
organizations to support fathers in this state by providing
comprehensive support to fathers, including assistance with:
(1) finding employment;
(2) managing child support obligations;
(3) transitioning from a period of incarceration; and
(4) accessing health care.
(b) A community-based nonprofit organization that receives
a grant under this section must provide:
(1) assistance that is tailored to the needs of the
father being served; and
(2) case management services, either directly or by
subcontract, to the father being served.
(c) A grant awarded under this section may be awarded to a
community-based nonprofit organization for not more than three
years.
(d) Not later than the third anniversary of the date the
commission implements the grant program established under this
section, the commission shall submit a report to the governor and
the legislature regarding the results and performance of the grant
program and any recommendations for legislative or other action,
including whether to continue the program.
SECTION 5. Section 531.982, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
(d) The commission shall implement fatherhood engagement
activities as part of a home visiting program implemented under
this section. The activities may include increased and
individualized support for fathers that is designed to strengthen
the family and increase child well-being.
SECTION 6. Subchapter D, Chapter 662, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 662.116 to read as follows:
Sec. 662.116. RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD MONTH. (a) June is
Responsible Fatherhood Month to honor a father's contribution to
their child's well-being, safety, and stability.
(b) During Responsible Fatherhood Month, the Health and
Human Services Commission shall at least weekly promote the
importance of fatherhood for the health and welfare of a child
through community engagement events, the news media, the
commission's Internet website and social media platforms, and any
other method the commission uses to communicate with the public.
(c) Responsible Fatherhood Month shall be regularly
observed through appropriate activities in public locations to
increase awareness of the importance and benefits of fatherhood.
SECTION 7. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the commissioner of education shall establish the
grant program required under Section 29.9011, Education Code, as
added by this Act.
SECTION 8. Not later than September 1, 2024:
(1) the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
Services Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement
Section 531.292, Government Code, as added by this Act; and
(2) the commission shall establish and implement:
(A) the Responsible Fatherhood Initiative
required under Section 531.291, Government Code, as added by this
Act; and
(B) the grant program required under Section
531.292, Government Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.