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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study of the Dallas Men Against Abuse program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. STUDY REQUIRED. The Health and Human Services |
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Commission shall conduct a study of the Dallas Men Against Abuse |
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program implemented by the City of Dallas to address domestic |
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violence to determine if any or all aspects of the program should be |
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implemented at the state level or in additional local communities |
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or school districts. |
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SECTION 2. CONTENTS OF STUDY. The study must: |
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(1) examine each aspect of the program; |
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(2) evaluate the effectiveness of each aspect of the |
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program in reducing incidents of family violence, based on |
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indicators such as the number of calls made to domestic violence |
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hotlines, the number of victims of family violence who participate |
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in prosecution of offenses involving family violence, and the |
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number of aggravated assault charges filed in family violence |
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cases; |
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(3) assess the costs associated with the program and |
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sources of funding; |
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(4) determine the feasibility of implementing one or |
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more aspects of the program at the state level or in additional |
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local communities or school districts; and |
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(5) make recommendations to the legislature regarding |
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implementation of any or all aspects of the program at the state |
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level or in additional local communities or school districts. |
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SECTION 3. AGENCY PARTICIPATION AND COOPERATION. At the |
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request of the Health and Human Services Commission, the Department |
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of Family and Protective Services and each other health and human |
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services agency under the authority of the commission shall |
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participate in the study and provide appropriate assistance. The |
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Texas Education Agency shall cooperate with the Health and Human |
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Services Commission as necessary to enable the commission to assess |
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the feasibility of implementing any or all aspects of the program in |
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school districts. |
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SECTION 4. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2016, the |
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Health and Human Services Commission shall submit a report to the |
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legislature regarding the results of the study and the commission's |
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recommendations regarding expanded implementation of the program. |
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SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |