Bill Text: TX SB487 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced

Texas Senate Bill 487 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to the office of minority statistics and engagement in the Department of Family and Protective Services.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-14 - Referred to Health & Human Services [SB487 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-SB487-Introduced.html

	86R7192 SCL-D

	By: Watson	S.B. No. 487



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the office of minority statistics and engagement in the
	Department of Family and Protective Services.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code,
	is amended by adding Section 40.043 to read as follows:
	Sec. 40.043. OFFICE OF MINORITY STATISTICS AND ENGAGEMENT.
	(a) In this section:
	(1) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
	assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.
	(2) "Office" means the office of minority statistics
	and engagement established under this section.
	(b) Using existing resources, the department, in
	consultation with an institution of higher education and the child
	welfare community, shall establish an office of minority statistics
	and engagement within the department to address the
	disproportionality in the rate of use of child protective and
	welfare services by and the provision of those services to children
	who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group and are in the
	child welfare system.
	(c) In collaboration with an institution of higher
	education and appropriate persons in the child welfare community,
	the office shall identify the causes of the disproportionality
	described by Subsection (b) and develop recommendations for
	addressing those causes and for improving the rate of use of child
	protective and welfare services by and the provision of those
	services to children and their families. In identifying the causes
	and developing recommendations, the office shall:
	(1) share with the institution any information
	necessary for the institution to assist in identifying the causes
	and developing recommendations;
	(2) consider the unique needs and resources of this
	state; and
	(3) consider the outcomes for children in the child
	welfare system and the services necessary to improve the outcomes.
	(d) The office shall annually submit a written report to the
	governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of
	representatives, and chair of each standing legislative committee
	with primary jurisdiction over the department that includes:
	(1) the recommendations developed under Subsection
	(c);
	(2) methods to address disproportionality across the
	child welfare system; and
	(3) a summary of the initiatives developed by the
	department during the preceding year to address the causes of
	disproportionality identified in Subsection (c).
	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.