H.B. No. 2630

	AN ACT
	relating to certain programs provided to families of children at
	risk for abuse and neglect.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 264.201(d), Family Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	(d)  The services may include in-home programs, parenting
	skills training, youth coping skills, and individual and family
	counseling.  If the department requires or a court orders parenting
	skills training services through a parenting education program, the
	program must be an evidence-based or promising practice parenting
	education program described by Section 265.101 that is provided in
	the community in which the family resides, if available.
	SECTION 2.  Chapter 265, Family Code, is amended by
	designating Sections 265.001, 265.002, 265.003, and 265.004 as
	Subchapter A and adding a subchapter heading to read as follows:
	SUBCHAPTER A. PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES
	SECTION 3.  Section 265.004, Family Code, is amended by
	amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) to
	read as follows:
	(a)  To the extent that money is appropriated for the
	purpose, the department shall fund evidence-based programs,
	including parenting education, home visitation, family support
	services, mentoring, positive youth development programs, and
	crisis counseling, offered by community-based organizations that
	are designed to prevent or ameliorate child abuse and neglect.  The
	[evidence-based] programs funded under this subsection may be
	offered by a child welfare board established under Section 264.005,
	a local governmental board granted the powers and duties of a child
	welfare board under state law, [or] a children's advocacy center
	established under Section 264.402, or other persons determined
	appropriate by the department.
	(a-1)  The department shall ensure that not less than 75
	percent of the money appropriated for parenting education programs
	under Subsection (a) funds evidence-based programs described by
	Section 265.101(b) and that the remainder of that money funds
	promising practice programs described by Section 265.101(c).
	(a-2)  The department shall actively seek and apply for any
	available federal funds to support parenting education programs
	provided under this section.
	SECTION 4.  Subchapter A, Chapter 265, Family Code, as added
	by this Act, is amended by adding Section 265.005 to read as
	follows:
	Sec. 265.005.  STRATEGIC PLAN. (a)  The department shall
	develop and implement a five-year strategic plan for prevention and
	early intervention services.  Not later than September 1 of the last
	fiscal year in each five-year period, the department shall issue a
	new strategic plan for the next five fiscal years beginning with the
	following fiscal year.
	(b)  A strategic plan required under this section must:
	(1)  identify methods to leverage other sources of
	funding or provide support for existing community-based prevention
	efforts;
	(2)  include a needs assessment that identifies
	programs to best target the needs of the highest risk populations
	and geographic areas;
	(3)  identify the goals and priorities for the
	department's overall prevention efforts;
	(4)  report the results of previous prevention efforts
	using available information in the plan;
	(5)  identify additional methods of measuring program
	effectiveness and results or outcomes;
	(6)  identify methods to collaborate with other state
	agencies on prevention efforts; and
	(7)  identify specific strategies to implement the plan
	and to develop measures for reporting on the overall progress
	toward the plan's goals.
	(c)  The department shall coordinate with interested parties
	and communities in developing the strategic plan under this
	section.
	(d)  The department shall annually update the strategic plan
	developed under this section.
	(e)  The department shall post the strategic plan developed
	under this section and any update to the plan on its Internet
	website.
	SECTION 5.  Subchapter D, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code,
	as amended by S.B. 219, Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular
	Session, 2015, is transferred to Chapter 265, Family Code,
	redesignated as Subchapter B, Chapter 265, Family Code, and amended
	to read as follows:
	SUBCHAPTER B [D]. CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PRIMARY PREVENTION
	PROGRAMS
	Sec. 265.051 [40.101].  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
	(1)  "Children's trust fund" means a child abuse and
	neglect primary prevention program.
	(2)  "Primary prevention" means services and
	activities available to the community at large or to families to
	prevent child abuse and neglect before it occurs.  The term includes
	infant mortality prevention education programs.
	(3)  "Operating fund" means the Department of Family
	and Protective Services child abuse and neglect prevention
	operating fund account.
	(4)  "State agency" means a board, commission,
	department, office, or other state agency that:
	(A)  is in the executive branch of the state
	government;
	(B)  was created by the constitution or a statute
	of this state; and
	(C)  has statewide jurisdiction.
	(5)  "Trust fund" means the child abuse and neglect
	prevention trust fund account.
	Sec. 265.052 [40.102].  CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PRIMARY
	PREVENTION PROGRAMS. (a)  The department shall operate the
	children's trust fund to:
	(1)  set policy, offer resources for community primary
	prevention programs, and provide information and education on
	prevention of child abuse and neglect;
	(2)  develop a state plan for expending funds for child
	abuse and neglect primary prevention programs that includes an
	annual schedule of transfers of trust fund money to the operating
	fund;
	(3)  develop eligibility criteria for applicants
	requesting funding for child abuse and neglect primary prevention
	programs; and
	(4)  establish funding priorities for child abuse and
	neglect primary prevention programs.
	(b)  The children's trust fund shall accommodate the
	department's existing rules and policies in procuring, awarding,
	and monitoring contracts and grants.
	(c)  The department may:
	(1)  apply for and receive funds made available by the
	federal government or another public or private source for
	administering programs under this subchapter and for funding for
	child abuse and neglect primary prevention programs; and
	(2)  solicit donations for child abuse and neglect
	primary prevention programs.
	Sec. 265.053 [40.104].  ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER COSTS.
	(a)  Administrative costs under this subchapter during any fiscal
	year may not exceed an amount equal to 50 percent of the interest
	credited to the trust fund during the preceding fiscal year.
	(b)  Funds expended under a special project grant from a
	governmental source or a nongovernmental source for public
	education or public awareness may not be counted as administrative
	costs for the purposes of this section.
	Sec. 265.054 [40.105].  CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PREVENTION
	TRUST FUND ACCOUNT. (a)  The child abuse and neglect prevention
	trust fund account is an account in the general revenue fund.  Money
	in the trust fund is dedicated to child abuse and neglect primary
	prevention programs.
	(b)  The department may transfer money contained in the trust
	fund to the operating fund at any time. However, during a fiscal
	year the department may not transfer more than the amount
	appropriated for the operating fund for that fiscal year. Money
	transferred to the operating fund that was originally deposited to
	the credit of the trust fund under Section 118.022, Local
	Government Code, may be used only for child abuse and neglect
	primary prevention programs.
	(c)  Interest earned on the trust fund shall be credited to
	the trust fund.
	(d)  The trust fund is exempt from the application of Section
	403.095, Government Code.
	(e)  All marriage license fees and other fees collected for
	and deposited in the trust fund and interest earned on the trust
	fund balance shall be appropriated each biennium only to the
	operating fund for [primary] child abuse and neglect primary
	prevention programs.
	Sec. 265.055 [40.106].  DEPARTMENT OPERATING FUND ACCOUNT.
	(a)  The operating fund is an account in the general revenue fund.
	(b)  Administrative and other costs allowed in Section
	265.053 [40.104] shall be taken from the operating fund. The
	department may transfer funds contained in the operating fund to
	the trust fund at any time.
	(c)  The legislature may appropriate the money in the
	operating fund to carry out the provisions of this subchapter.
	(d)  The operating fund is exempt from the application of
	Section 403.095, Government Code.
	Sec. 265.056 [40.107].  CONTRIBUTIONS. (a)  The department
	may solicit contributions from any appropriate source.
	(b)  Any other contributions for child abuse and neglect
	primary prevention or other prevention and early intervention
	programs shall be deposited into a separate designated fund in the
	state treasury and shall be used for that designated purpose.
	(c)  A person may contribute funds to either the trust fund,
	the operating fund, or a fund designated by the department for a
	specific child abuse and neglect primary prevention or other
	prevention or early intervention purpose.
	(d)  If a person designates that a contribution is intended
	as a donation to a specific fund, the contribution shall be
	deposited in the designated fund.
	SECTION 6.  Section 40.0561, Human Resources Code, is
	transferred to Subchapter B, Chapter 265, Family Code, as
	transferred and redesignated from Subchapter D, Chapter 40, Human
	Resources Code, by this Act, and redesignated as Section 265.057,
	Family Code, to read as follows:
	Sec. 265.057  [40.0561].  COMMUNITY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
	GRANTS. (a)  Subject to available funding, the department shall
	award community youth development grants to communities identified
	by incidence of crime. The department shall give priority in
	awarding grants under this section to areas of the state in which
	there is a high incidence of juvenile crime.
	(b)  The purpose of a grant under this section is to assist a
	community in alleviating conditions in the family and community
	that lead to juvenile crime.
	SECTION 7.  Chapter 265, Family Code, is amended by adding
	Subchapter C to read as follows:
	SUBCHAPTER C.  PARENTING EDUCATION
	Sec. 265.101.  PARENTING EDUCATION PROGRAMS. (a) A
	parenting education program provided by the department must be an
	evidence-based program or a promising practice program described by
	this section.
	(b)  An evidence-based program is a parenting education
	program that:
	(1)  is research-based and grounded in relevant,
	empirical knowledge and program-determined outcomes;
	(2)  has comprehensive standards ensuring the highest
	quality service delivery with continuous improvement in the quality
	of service delivery;
	(3)  has demonstrated significant positive short-term
	and long-term outcomes;
	(4)  has been evaluated by at least one rigorous,
	random, controlled research trial across heterogeneous populations
	or communities with research results that have been published in a
	peer-reviewed journal;
	(5)  substantially complies with a program manual or
	design that specifies the purpose, outcomes, duration, and
	frequency of the program services; and
	(6)  employs well-trained and competent staff and
	provides continual relevant professional development opportunities
	to the staff.
	(c)  A promising practice program is a parenting education
	program that:
	(1)  has an active impact evaluation program or
	demonstrates a schedule for implementing an active impact
	evaluation program;
	(2)  has been evaluated by at least one outcome-based
	study demonstrating effectiveness or random, controlled trial in a
	homogeneous sample;
	(3)  substantially complies with a program manual or
	design that specifies the purpose, outcomes, duration, and
	frequency of the program services;
	(4)  employs well-trained and competent staff and
	provides continual relevant professional development opportunities
	to the staff; and
	(5)  is research-based and grounded in relevant,
	empirical knowledge and program-determined outcomes.
	Sec. 265.102.  OUTCOMES OF EVIDENCE-BASED PARENTING
	EDUCATION. The department shall ensure that a parenting education
	program provided under this chapter achieves favorable behavioral
	outcomes in at least two of the following areas:
	(1)  improved cognitive development of children;
	(2)  increased school readiness of children;
	(3)  reduced child abuse, neglect, and injury;
	(4)  improved child safety;
	(5)  improved social-emotional development of
	children;
	(6)  improved parenting skills, including nurturing
	and bonding;
	(7)  improved family economic self-sufficiency;
	(8)  reduced parental involvement with the criminal
	justice system; and
	(9)  increased paternal involvement and support.
	Sec. 265.103.  EVALUATION OF EVIDENCE-BASED PARENTING
	EDUCATION. (a) The department shall adopt outcome indicators to
	measure the effectiveness of parenting education programs provided
	under this chapter in achieving desired outcomes.
	(b)  The department may work directly with the model
	developer of a parenting education program to identify appropriate
	outcome indicators for the program and to ensure that the program
	substantially complies with the model.
	(c)  The department shall develop internal processes to
	share information with parenting education programs to assist the
	department in analyzing the performance of the programs.
	(d)  The department shall use information obtained under
	this section to:
	(1)  monitor parenting education programs;
	(2)  continually improve the quality of the programs;
	and
	(3)  evaluate the effectiveness of the programs.
	Sec. 265.1035.  INITIAL REPORT. (a) Not later than December
	1, 2016, the department shall prepare and submit a report on
	state-funded parenting education programs to the standing
	committees of the senate and house of representatives with
	jurisdiction over child protective services.
	(b)  The report submitted under this section must include:
	(1)  the status and a description of the parenting
	education programs implemented and a description of the models
	associated with the programs; and
	(2)  information on the number of families served by
	the programs, including their demographic information.
	(c)  This section expires January 1, 2017.
	Sec. 265.104.  REPORTS TO LEGISLATURE. (a) Not later than
	December 1 of each even-numbered year, the department shall prepare
	and submit a report on state-funded parenting education programs to
	the standing committees of the senate and house of representatives
	with jurisdiction over child protective services.
	(b)  A report submitted under this section must include:
	(1)  a description of the parenting education programs
	implemented and of the models associated with the programs;
	(2)  information on the families served by the
	programs, including the number of families served and their
	demographic information;
	(3)  the goals and achieved outcomes of the programs;
	(4)  information on the cost for each family served,
	including any available third-party return-on-investment analysis;
	and
	(5)  information explaining the percentage of money
	spent on evidence-based programs and on promising practice
	programs.
	Sec. 265.105.  RULES. The executive commissioner of the
	Health and Human Services Commission may adopt rules as necessary
	to implement this subchapter.
	SECTION 8.  Section 40.0523, Human Resources Code, as
	amended by S.B. 219, Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session,
	2015, is repealed.
	SECTION 9.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
	a program provided under Chapter 265, Family Code, on or after the
	effective date of this Act.
	SECTION 10.  Not later than September 1, 2016, the
	Department of Family and Protective Services shall adopt the
	initial strategic plan required by Section 265.005, Family Code, as
	added by this Act.
	SECTION 11.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 2630 was passed by the House on April
	23, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 136, Nays 3, 2 present, not
	voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
	No. 2630 on May 28, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 136, Nays 5,
	3 present, not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 2630 was passed by the Senate, with
	amendments, on May 26, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays
	1.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED: __________________
	Date
	__________________
	Governor