CHAPTER 267. INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR BUILDING HEALTHY FAMILIES

Sec. 267.001. INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR BUILDING HEALTHY FAMILIES. (a) The Interagency Coordinating Council for Building Healthy Families is established to:

(1) facilitate communication and collaboration concerning policies for the prevention of and early intervention in child abuse and neglect among state agencies whose programs and services promote and foster healthy families;

(2) facilitate improvements in the coordination of service delivery among those agencies;

(3) provide information and other resources to assist those agencies; and

(4) receive input from those agencies in order to develop and improve policies for the prevention of and early intervention in child abuse and neglect.

(b) The council consists of one representative from each of the following agencies appointed by the executive director or commissioner of each agency:

(1) the Department of Family and Protective Services;

(2) the Health and Human Services Commission;

(3) the Department of State Health Services;

(4) the Department of Aging and Disability Services;

(5) the Texas Youth Commission;

(6) the Texas Education Agency;

(7) the Texas Workforce Commission;

(8) the office of the attorney general;

(9) the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission;

(10) the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs; and

(11) the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services.

(c) A representative of an agency appointed to the council must have an overall understanding of the agency’s mission and purpose and substantial experience and expertise relating to the administration of the agency’s policies, programs, and activities.

(d) The representative from the Department of Family and Protective Services serves as the presiding officer of the council.

(e) The council shall meet at least quarterly and shall submit to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the legislature the minutes of each council meeting.

(f) The council shall evaluate:

(1) the potential for streamlined funding mechanisms for programs and services for the prevention of and early intervention in child abuse and neglect;

(2) the effectiveness and cost efficiency of state-funded programs and services for the prevention of and early intervention in child abuse and neglect;

(3) the effectiveness of state-funded child maltreatment prevention programs and services in achieving their intended outcomes and methods for transitioning those programs and services to an increased reliance on evidence-based practices;

(4) methods for the ongoing identification of additional opportunities for comprehensive improvements to the delivery of services for the prevention of and early intervention in child abuse and neglect; and

(5) the need for increased state funding for programs and services for the prevention of and early intervention in child abuse and neglect in order to ensure a sustained, long-term, cost-effective investment in families in this state.

(g) Not later than December 1, 2008, the council shall prepare and submit to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the legislature a report containing the council’s recommendations for improving the coordination and collaboration of child abuse and neglect prevention and early intervention programs and services among state agencies. The council shall include in the report:

(1) the status of the council’s findings based on the council’s evaluation under Subsections (f)(1), (4), and (5);

(2) details regarding the strategic plan for child abuse and neglect prevention services developed by the Department of Family and Protective Services in consultation with the council under Section 265.005;

(3) the council’s recommendations regarding implementation of the strategic plan, including a detailed explanation of the resources, the funds, and any interagency or intergovernmental agreements necessary to accomplish the plan; and

(4) the council’s recommendation regarding whether to continue the council.

(h) Not later than December 1, 2009, the council shall prepare and submit to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the legislature a report containing the status of the council’s findings based on the council’s evaluation under Subsections (f)(2) and (3).

Redesignated from Family Code, Chapter 266 and amended by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 632, Sec. 3, eff. June 15, 2007.

Sec. 267.002. EXPIRATION OF CHAPTER. This chapter expires January 1, 2010.

Redesignated from Family Code, Chapter 266 and amended by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 632, Sec. 3, eff. June 15, 2007.