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AN ACT
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relating to a task force for the development of a strategy to reduce |
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child abuse and neglect and improve child welfare. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 264, Family Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter H-1 to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER H-1. TASK FORCE TO REDUCE CHILD ABUSE AND |
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NEGLECT AND IMPROVE CHILD WELFARE |
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Sec. 264.721. ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE. A task force is |
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established under this subchapter to develop a strategy to reduce |
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child abuse and neglect and improve child welfare. |
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Sec. 264.722. TASK FORCE. (a) The task force consists of |
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nine members appointed as follows: |
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(1) seven members appointed by the governor, two of |
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whom must be appointed from a list of candidates submitted by the |
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speaker of the house of representatives; and |
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(2) two members appointed by the lieutenant governor. |
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(b) Members of the task force must be individuals who: |
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(1) are actively involved in the prevention of child |
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abuse and neglect and the improvement of child welfare; and |
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(2) represent a diversity of backgrounds. |
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(c) Appointments to the task force shall be made without |
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regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or |
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national origin of the appointee. |
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(d) A task force member is not entitled to compensation for |
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service on the task force but is entitled to reimbursement for |
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travel expenses as provided by Chapter 660, Government Code, and |
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the General Appropriations Act. |
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(e) The task force shall elect a presiding officer by a |
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majority vote of the membership of the task force. |
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(f) The task force shall meet at the call of the presiding |
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officer. |
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(g) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the |
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task force. |
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Sec. 264.723. TASK FORCE DUTIES. (a) The task force shall |
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identify: |
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(1) all existing programs in the state relating to |
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reducing child abuse and neglect or improving child welfare; and |
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(2) the programs described by Subdivision (1) that |
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receive state money. |
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(b) The task force shall establish a strategy for reducing |
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child abuse and neglect and for improving child welfare in this |
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state. In establishing that strategy, the task force shall: |
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(1) gather information concerning child safety, child |
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abuse and neglect, and child welfare throughout the state; |
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(2) receive reports and testimony from individuals, |
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state and local agencies, community-based organizations, and other |
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public and private organizations; |
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(3) create goals for state policy that would improve |
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child safety, prevent child abuse and neglect, and improve child |
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welfare; |
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(4) review and revise the strategic plan to accomplish |
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those goals submitted by a previous task force; and |
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(5) submit the revised strategic plan. |
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(c) The revised strategic plan submitted under Subsection |
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(b) may include proposals for specific statutory changes, the |
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creation of new programs, and methods to foster cooperation among |
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state agencies and between the state and local governments. |
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Sec. 264.724. SUPPORT AGENCY DUTIES. The department, the |
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Department of State Health Services, the Texas Department of |
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Criminal Justice, the Texas Youth Commission, the Texas Juvenile |
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Probation Commission, The University of Texas System, and The Texas |
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A&M University System shall: |
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(1) provide administrative support services to the |
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task force; |
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(2) coordinate administrative responsibilities with |
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the task force to avoid unnecessary duplication of duties; |
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(3) share equally the costs of the task force, |
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including reimbursement for travel expenses, administrative |
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expenses, and the costs of publishing the task force's strategic |
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plan; and |
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(4) each designate a person to serve as the agency |
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liaison with the task force. |
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Sec. 264.725. CONSULTATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES; PRIVATE |
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FOUNDATIONS. (a) The task force shall consult with employees of |
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the department, the Department of State Health Services, the Texas |
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Department of Criminal Justice, the Texas Youth Commission, the |
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Texas Juvenile Probation Commission, The University of Texas |
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System, and The Texas A&M University System as necessary to |
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accomplish the task force's responsibilities under this |
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subchapter. |
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(b) The task force shall cooperate as necessary with any |
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other state agency. |
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(c) The task force may consult with private foundations that |
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have made a substantial commitment to the prevention of child abuse |
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in this state to accomplish the task force's responsibilities under |
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this chapter. |
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Sec. 264.726. FUNDING; ACCOUNT. (a) The task force shall |
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review the funding strategies for the task force and develop |
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proposals for expanding the sources of funds available to finance |
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the activities of the task force. |
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(b) The task force may accept gifts and grants from |
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individuals or private or public organizations and accept federal |
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and local funds to support the task force. |
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(c) The child abuse reduction task force account is an |
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account in the general revenue fund. Money in the account may be |
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appropriated only to the task force for the purposes of this |
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subchapter. The child abuse reduction task force account is exempt |
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from the application of Section 403.095, Government Code. The |
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account consists of: |
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(1) gifts and grants to the task force; |
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(2) money received by the task force from the federal, |
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state, or local government; and |
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(3) notwithstanding Section 404.071, Government Code, |
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all interest attributable to money held in the account. |
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Sec. 264.727. SUBMISSION OF PLAN. Not later than December |
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1, 2012, the task force shall submit the strategic plan required by |
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Section 264.723 to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker |
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of the house of representatives. |
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Sec. 264.728. EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and |
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this subchapter expires September 1, 2013. |
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SECTION 2. The governor and lieutenant governor shall |
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appoint the members of the task force as required by Section |
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264.722, Family Code, as added by this Act, not later than October |
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1, 2011. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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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. 1154 passed the Senate on |
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April 13, 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. 1154 passed the House on |
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May 20, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 137, Nays 12, 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 |