relating to the powers and duties of the Health and Human Services
Commission and the transfer to the commission of certain powers and
duties from the Department of Family and Protective Services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Title 9, Human Resources Code, is amended by
adding Chapter 137, and a heading is added to that chapter to read
as follows:
CHAPTER 137. FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES
SECTION 2. Subchapters A, B, and C, Chapter 265, Family
Code, are transferred to Chapter 137, Human Resources Code, as
added by this Act, redesignated as Subchapters A, B, and C, Chapter
137, Human Resources Code, respectively, and amended to read as
follows:
SUBCHAPTER A. FAMILY SUPPORT [PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION]
SERVICES
Sec.137.001.APPLICABILITY OF DEFINITIONS. The
definitions in Chapter 101, Family Code, apply to terms used in this
chapter.
Sec. 137.002 [265.001]. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "At-risk family" means a family with at least one
child or a pregnant woman and at least one of the following:
(A)a child in the family has been the subject of
an investigation of abuse, neglect, or exploitation by the
Department of Family and Protective Services;
(B)the family or a pregnant woman in the family
is experiencing conditions that increase the likelihood of
involvement with the child welfare system, the criminal justice
system, or the juvenile justice system; or
(C)the family or a pregnant woman in the family
is experiencing other conditions that threaten the
self-sufficiency or stability of the family or the birth or health
of a baby ["Department" means the Department of Family and
Protective Services].
(2) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
Commission ["Division" means the prevention and early intervention
services division within the department].
(3) "Executive commissioner" means the executive
commissioner of the commission.
(4) "Family support ["Prevention and early
intervention] services" means programs intended to provide [early]
intervention and promote safety and stability for children and
at-risk families [or prevent at-risk behaviors that lead to child
abuse, delinquency, running away, truancy, and dropping out of
school].
Sec. 137.003 [265.002]. FAMILY SUPPORT [PREVENTION AND
EARLY INTERVENTION] SERVICES [DIVISION]. (a) The commission
[department] shall:
(1) administer grants and contracts [operate a
division] to provide family support services to [for] children and
[in] at-risk [situations and for the] families;
(2) [of those children and to achieve the
consolidation of prevention and early intervention services within
the jurisdiction of a single agency in order to avoid fragmentation
and duplication of services and to increase the accountability for
the delivery and administration of these services. The division
shall be called the prevention and early intervention services
division and shall have the following duties:
[(1) to] plan, develop, and administer an integrated
continuum of care system of programs providing family support
services to at-risk families [a comprehensive and unified delivery
system of prevention and early intervention services to children
and their families in at-risk situations];
(3)administer the referral, coordination, and
collaboration of family support services under this chapter with
similar, existing programs the commission operates;
(4) [(2) to] improve the responsiveness of family
support services provided to [for at-risk] children and at-risk
[their] families by facilitating greater coordination and
flexibility in the use of funds by state and local service
providers;
(5) [(3) to] provide greater accountability for
family support [prevention and early intervention] services in
Statutes affected: Introduced: Family Code 261.002, Human Resources Code 40.0025, Local Government Code 118.022 (Family Code 261, Human Resources Code 40, Local Government Code 118) Senate Committee Report: Family Code 261.002, Human Resources Code 40.0025, Local Government Code 118.022 (Family Code 261, Human Resources Code 40, Local Government Code 118) Engrossed: Family Code 52.03, Family Code 59.004, Family Code 37.218, Family Code 261.002, Human Resources Code 40.0025, Local Government Code 118.022 (Local Government Code 118, Human Resources Code 40, Family Code 37, Family Code 261, Family Code 52, Family Code 59) House Committee Report: Family Code 52.03, Family Code 59.004, Family Code 37.218, Family Code 261.002, Human Resources Code 40.0025, Local Government Code 118.022, The following provisions of the Family Code 137.003 (The following provisions of the Family Code 137, Local Government Code 118, Human Resources Code 40, Family Code 37, Family Code 261, Family Code 52, Family Code 59) Enrolled: Family Code 52.03, Family Code 59.004, Family Code 37.218, Family Code 261.002, Human Resources Code 40.0025, Local Government Code 118.022 (The following provisions of the Family Code 137, Local Government Code 118, Human Resources Code 40, Family Code 37, Family Code 261, Family Code 52, Family Code 59)