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AN ACT
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relating to the purpose and duties of the Council on Children and |
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Families. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subsection (a), Section 531.802, Government |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The Council on Children and Families is established to: |
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(1) coordinate the state's health, education, and |
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human services systems to ensure that children and families have |
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access to needed services; |
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(2) improve coordination and efficiency in state |
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agencies, advisory councils on issues affecting children, and local |
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levels of service; |
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(3) prioritize and mobilize resources for children; |
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[and] |
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(4) facilitate an integrated approach to providing |
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services for children and youth; and |
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(5) promote the sharing of information regarding |
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children and their families among state agencies. |
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SECTION 2. Subsection (a), Section 531.803, Government |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The council shall: |
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(1) analyze the biennial legislative appropriations |
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requests of members of the council for services provided to |
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children and their families and identify appropriations that, |
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through the coordination of members of the council, could be |
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modified in the next legislative appropriation request to eliminate |
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waste or increase available services and, not later than May 1 of |
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each even-numbered year, prepare a report recommending those |
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modifications for consideration during the development of the next |
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biennial legislative appropriations request; |
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(2) investigate opportunities to increase flexible |
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funding for health, education, and human services provided to |
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children and their families; |
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(3) identify methods to remove barriers to local |
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coordination of health, education, and human services provided to |
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children and their families; |
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(4) identify methods to ensure that children and youth |
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receive appropriate assessment, diagnoses, and intervention |
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services; |
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(5) develop methods to prevent unnecessary parental |
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relinquishment of custody of children; |
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(6) prioritize assisting children in family settings |
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rather than institutional settings; [and] |
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(7) make recommendations about family involvement in |
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the provision and planning of health, education, and human services |
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for a child, including family partner and liaison models; and |
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(8) identify technological methods to ensure the |
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efficient and timely transfer of information among state agencies |
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providing health, education, and human services to children and |
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their families. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 717 passed the Senate on |
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April 19, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 717 passed the House on |
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May 25, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 145, Nays 0, one |
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present not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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Approved: |
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______________________________ |
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Date |
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______________________________ |
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Governor |