Bill Text: TX SB1291 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to training for certain individuals who provide care for or services to children in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-07 - Referred to Health & Human Services [SB1291 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-SB1291-Introduced.html
By: Watson | S.B. No. 1291 | |
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relating to training for certain individuals who provide care for | ||
or services to children in the conservatorship of the Department of | ||
Family and Protective Services. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 264.015, Family Code, is amended by | ||
adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: | ||
(d) The department shall, in consultation with foster care | ||
alumni, Preparation for Adult Living staff, institutions of higher | ||
learning, and current foster youth, foster parents and adoptive | ||
parents, adopt or develop a training program for any foster | ||
parents, adoptive parents, or kinship caregivers regarding the most | ||
effective methods of communicating with children who are or have | ||
been in the conservatorship of the department about issues | ||
regarding health and well-being, including: | ||
(1) self-image; | ||
(2) healthy relationships; | ||
(3) goal setting; | ||
(4) planning and decision making; and | ||
(5) protection from sexually transmitted infections, | ||
unintended pregnancy, and exploitation. | ||
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 264, Family Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 264.0151 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 264.0151. TRAINING MATERIALS FOR GUARDIANS AD LITEM, | ||
ATTORNEYS AD LITEM, COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES AND JUDGES. | ||
The Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for | ||
Children, Youth and Families shall, in consultation with | ||
stakeholders including, but not limited to, current guardians ad | ||
litem, attorneys ad litem, and court appointed special advocates, | ||
develop training materials for guardians ad litem, attorneys ad | ||
litem, and judges who represent or preside over cases involving | ||
children and youth in the conservatorship of the department | ||
concerning the health and well-being of those children and youth, | ||
including: | ||
(1) policies regarding consent for health care | ||
services, including reproductive health care, family planning, and | ||
contraceptive care; | ||
(2) general health and wellness; | ||
(3) healthy relationships; and | ||
(4) advocating for or representing pregnant and | ||
parenting children and youth. | ||
SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code, | ||
is amended by adding Section 40.036 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 40.036. CASEWORKER TRAINING ON HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS. | ||
The department, in collaboration with an institute for higher | ||
learning, shall create or adopt a required training program for | ||
child protective services caseworkers to provide instruction to the | ||
caseworkers on developmentally-appropriate, trauma-informed | ||
methods of communicating with children in the managing | ||
conservatorship of the department regarding reproductive health | ||
and healthy relationships. The training must be informed by | ||
evidence-based or model curriculum and include content regarding: | ||
(1) minor consent to sexual activity, including the | ||
legal age for consent under state law; | ||
(2) minor consent to health care services including | ||
family planning or contraceptive services; | ||
(3) preserving confidentiality; and | ||
(4) providing services to a child who becomes pregnant | ||
or who is a minor parent. | ||
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |