Bill Text: TX HB2140 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the creation by the Department of Family and Protective Services of positions and organizations to facilitate the provision of services to foster youth.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-05-11 - Left pending in committee [HB2140 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HB2140-Introduced.html
| 84R8175 MK-F | ||
| By: Naishtat | H.B. No. 2140 | |
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| relating to the creation by the Department of Family and Protective | ||
| Services of positions and organizations to facilitate the provision | ||
| of services to foster youth. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code, | ||
| is amended by adding Sections 40.075 and 40.076 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 40.075. YOUTH SPECIALISTS. (a) The department shall | ||
| designate an employee in each department region and one employee at | ||
| the state level to manage and coordinate regional outreach to | ||
| foster youth and assist the department in developing services, | ||
| policies, and procedures for foster youth. | ||
| (b) In addition to the duties described in Subsection (a), | ||
| each regional-level employee designated by the department under | ||
| Subsection (a) shall: | ||
| (1) assist foster youth in understanding the foster | ||
| children's bill of rights developed under Section 263.008, Family | ||
| Code, and ensure that the foster children's bill of rights is posted | ||
| in all facilities for foster youth licensed by the department; | ||
| (2) administer an annual survey of foster youth 10 | ||
| years of age or older and younger than 23 years of age to collect | ||
| information related to foster placements and the services provided | ||
| in foster placements; | ||
| (3) coordinate and facilitate the operation of the | ||
| regional youth leadership councils established under Section | ||
| 40.076; and | ||
| (4) create and coordinate leadership opportunities | ||
| for foster youth. | ||
| (c) The department shall include the results of the survey | ||
| administered under Subsection (b)(2) in the department's annual | ||
| report. | ||
| (d) In addition to the duties described in Subsection (a), | ||
| the state-level employee designated by the department under | ||
| Subsection (a) shall: | ||
| (1) oversee the activities of the regional-level | ||
| employees designated by the department under Subsection (a); and | ||
| (2) organize and facilitate the operation of the state | ||
| youth leadership council established under Section 40.076. | ||
| Sec. 40.076. YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCILS. (a) The department | ||
| shall establish a youth leadership council in each department | ||
| region of the state. Each regional youth leadership council shall: | ||
| (1) be composed of current and former foster youth; | ||
| and | ||
| (2) meet monthly to discuss department policies and | ||
| any other subject the members of the council consider to be | ||
| appropriate. | ||
| (b) The department shall establish a state youth leadership | ||
| council. The state youth leadership council shall: | ||
| (1) be composed of two members from each regional | ||
| youth leadership council in the state; and | ||
| (2) meet quarterly to: | ||
| (A) collaborate with the department to develop a | ||
| formal consumer engagement plan, including strategies for engaging | ||
| youth and young adults in foster care in the development of | ||
| department programs, policies, and practices; | ||
| (B) review all changes to department policies and | ||
| procedures that impact foster youth, before implementation of the | ||
| changes; | ||
| (C) compose and deliver a biennial report to the | ||
| legislature containing: | ||
| (i) a description of the activities of the | ||
| regional youth leadership councils; | ||
| (ii) a briefing on current issues facing | ||
| foster youth transitioning to independent living; | ||
| (iii) a summary of relevant data published | ||
| by the department relating to older foster youth; and | ||
| (iv) recommendations for improvements to | ||
| department policies and practices; and | ||
| (D) perform any other duties that the members of | ||
| the council believe are necessary or appropriate. | ||
| (c) The department must seek input from the state youth | ||
| leadership council before the department implements a change to any | ||
| policy or procedure that impacts children in foster care. | ||
| SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. | ||
