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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the rights of children and the education of parents |
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regarding their duties as parents. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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ARTICLE 1. CHILDREN'S BILL OF RIGHTS |
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SECTION 1.01. Chapter 151, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 151.005 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 151.005. CHILDREN'S BILL OF RIGHTS. (a) It is the |
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intent of the legislature to ensure that: |
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(1) children are the number one priority of this |
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state; and |
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(2) parents are educated regarding their duties under |
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law as the primary protectors of their children. |
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(b) It is the policy of this state that each child has the |
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right to: |
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(1) live in a safe, healthy, and comfortable home in |
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which the child is treated with respect; |
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(2) be free from physical, sexual, emotional, and |
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other abuse or neglect and any form of discipline that humiliates or |
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demeans the child; |
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(3) receive adequate and healthy food; |
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(4) receive access to a quality education; and |
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(5) receive appropriate medical, dental, vision, and |
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mental health services. |
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SECTION 1.02. Chapter 265, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 265.006 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 265.006. PUBLIC AWARENESS AND OUTREACH CAMPAIGN |
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REGARDING CHILDREN'S BILL OF RIGHTS. (a) Not later than September |
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1, 2010, the department shall develop and implement a statewide |
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public awareness and outreach campaign designed to educate the |
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public regarding the legislature's adoption and content of the |
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children's bill of rights under Section 151.005. |
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(b) The department may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and |
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donations from any public or private source for purposes of this |
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section. |
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(c) This section expires December 31, 2011. |
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SECTION 1.03. Subchapter A, Chapter 192, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 192.0035 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 192.0035. PRESENTATION TO PARENTS OF PROCLAMATION OF |
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CHILDREN'S BILL OF RIGHTS. (a) As soon as practicable after a |
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child's birth or adoption certificate is filed under this chapter |
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or a child's birth is reported under this chapter, the department |
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shall present to each of the child's parents a written proclamation |
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of the children's bill of rights prescribed by Section 151.005, |
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Family Code. |
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(b) The department, in consultation with the office of the |
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governor, shall establish the form, content, and manner of |
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presentation of the proclamation required by this section. The |
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proclamation must include a signed statement from the governor |
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congratulating the parent on the child's birth and informing the |
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parent of the parent's duties in relation to the child imposed under |
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the Family Code and other law. |
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(c) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall adopt rules for the administration of |
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this section. |
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ARTICLE 2. FAMILY EDUCATION CENTERS |
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SECTION 2.01. Subchapter F, Chapter 130, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 130.093 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 130.093. FAMILY EDUCATION CENTERS. (a) The board of |
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trustees of a junior college district may establish, in conjunction |
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with other public or private institutions of higher education and |
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other participating private entities, a family education center. |
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The family education center must be administered under a formal |
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agreement entered into by the district with the other member |
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institutions and entities. |
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(b) The family education center shall provide comprehensive |
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family educational activities and training to the residents of the |
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region in which the center is located. |
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(c) The member institutions and entities of the family |
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education center shall establish the curriculum for the center in |
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consultation with the prevention and early intervention services |
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division of the Department of Family and Protective Services. The |
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curriculum must be designed to: |
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(1) educate parents regarding their duties under law |
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as the primary protectors of their children; |
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(2) promote the prevention and amelioration of child |
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abuse and neglect; |
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(3) reduce the need for state and local services |
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addressing child maltreatment; and |
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(4) engage family members in individual and group |
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sessions designed to: |
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(A) prevent the occurrence of family violence; |
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(B) address addiction problems and other mental |
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health issues of family members; |
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(C) equip family members with strategies to |
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reduce stress and anxiety and creative ideas for family activities; |
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(D) foster communication, respect, forgiveness, |
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and intimacy among family members; |
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(E) build self-esteem; |
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(F) develop short- and long-term family goals; |
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(G) develop vocational skills; |
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(H) develop life skills, including skills |
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relating to parenting, discipline, positive reinforcement, infant |
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care, household budgeting, financial planning, daily planning of |
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household chores, nutrition and wellness, personal care, and |
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community volunteerism; and |
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(I) address any other family educational goals of |
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the local community served by the center. |
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(d) The member institutions and entities of the family |
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education center shall work with the local community to identify |
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and offer courses that will meet the family educational goals for |
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the region served by the center. |
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(e) The member institutions and entities of the family |
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education center, under the terms of the formal agreement, may make |
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provisions for adequate physical facilities for use by the center. |
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(f) The member institutions and entities of the family |
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education center may solicit, accept, and administer, on terms |
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acceptable to the members, gifts, grants, and donations of any kind |
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and from any public or private source for use by the center. |
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SECTION 2.02. Chapter 265, Family Code, is amended by adding |
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Sections 265.007 and 265.008 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 265.007. FAMILY EDUCATION CENTER CURRICULUM |
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DEVELOPMENT. On request by the member institutions and entities of |
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a family education center established under Section 130.093, |
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Education Code, the department shall assist the member institutions |
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and entities in developing a comprehensive curriculum for the |
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center designed to meet the goals prescribed by Section 130.093(c), |
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Education Code. |
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Sec. 265.008. FEASIBILITY STUDY REGARDING FAMILY EDUCATION |
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CENTERS; REPORT. (a) The department shall evaluate the feasibility |
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of requiring certain families who are the subject of a report of |
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alleged abuse or neglect of a child under this subtitle to |
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participate in educational activities offered by a family education |
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center established under Section 130.093, Education Code, as an |
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alternative to removing the child from the child's home. |
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(b) Not later than December 1, 2010, the department shall |
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prepare and submit to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the |
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house of representatives, and the members of the legislature a |
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report containing the department's findings regarding the |
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feasibility study conducted by the department under Subsection (a) |
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and the department's recommendations regarding whether family |
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education centers should be established statewide. |
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(c) This section expires September 1, 2011. |
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ARTICLE 3. EFFECTIVE DATE |
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SECTION 3.01. This Act takes effect immediately if it |
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receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each |
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house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. |
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If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate |
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effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |