By: Howard H.B. No. 5536
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a child protective services
prevention grant program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B-1, Chapter 264, Family Code, is
amended by adding Section 264.1691, Sec.264.1692, Sec. 264.1693,
Sec. 264.1694, and Sec. 264.1695 to read as follows:
Sec. 264.1691. CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES PREVENTION GRANT
PROGRAM. In this section, (a) "community-based, nonprofit
organization" means a community-driven nonprofit organization that
is headquartered in Texas that provides child-centered
preservation services; and
(b) "Grant program" means the child protective services
prevention grant program established under this subchapter.
Sec. 264.1692. ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF
PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall establish and administer a child
protective services prevention grant program through which the
commission awards grants to one or more eligible community-based,
nonprofit organizations for preventing, or reducing, incidences of
child abuse and neglect and promoting a child's well-being by:
(1) identifying children who are most at risk for
abuse and neglect before they enter child protective services,
families stand the best chance at staying together, and children
have the best odds for a healthy, productive, and fulfilling life.
(b) The commission shall provide grants to community-based,
nonprofit organizations to focused on an areas of need, not greater
than one-square mile, in a county that is ranked among the five
counties with the highest per capita rates of child abuse and
neglect.
Sec. 264.1693. APPLICATION AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.
(a) A community-based, nonprofit organization may apply to the
commission to receive money under the grant program if the
organization:
(1) is headquartered in Texas;
(2) provides a child-centered strategy that is
available to each child in the identified region;
(3) demonstrates a current and valid data-sharing
agreement with a state agency;
(4) demonstrates municipal and/or county support for
program and agreement to coordinate with grantee to administer
program;
(5) possess current and valid authorization to provide
services to children in foster care;
(6) use generally accepted statistical methods to
demonstrate services provide a positive impact on the well-being of
children in program, and successfully prevent incidences of abuse
and neglect;
(7) uses a generally accepted psychological
assessment before providing services and upon program completion to
demonstrate a positive impact on the well-being and mental health,
of children served; and
(8) use a generally accepted psychological assessment
before providing services and upon program completion to
demonstrate a positive impact on the well-being and mental health,
of children served; and
(9) submit an annual report to HHSC providing
information on program participant outcomes, and recommendations
for best-practice prevention strategies for consideration in other
regions in the state.
(b) The commission may award grants under the grant program
to eligible applicants.
Sec. 264.1694. FUNDING. (a) The commission shall award
grants under the program in accordance with this chapter from money
appropriated for the purposes of the program.
(b) Out of money appropriated to the commission that is
available for the purpose, the commission shall allocate a minimum
of $10 million each fiscal biennium to award grants under this
subchapter.
(1)
Sec. 264.1695. RULES. The executive commissioner shall
adopt rules to implement this chapter.
SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2026, the executive
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall
adopt the rules necessary to implement Chapter , Code, as
added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.