Howard Prevention Grant Bill Funds Tiny Areas In Five Counties

The text as introduced · 569 words

By: Howard
H.B. No. 5536

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of a child protective services

prevention grant program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B-1, Chapter 264, Family Code, is

amended by adding Section 264.1691, Sec.264.1692, Sec. 264.1693,

Sec. 264.1694, and Sec. 264.1695 to read as follows:

Sec. 264.1691. CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES PREVENTION GRANT

PROGRAM. In this section, (a) "community-based, nonprofit

organization" means a community-driven nonprofit organization that

is headquartered in Texas that provides child-centered

preservation services; and

(b) "Grant program" means the child protective services

prevention grant program established under this subchapter.

Sec. 264.1692. ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF

PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall establish and administer a child

protective services prevention grant program through which the

commission awards grants to one or more eligible community-based,

nonprofit organizations for preventing, or reducing, incidences of

child abuse and neglect and promoting a child's well-being by:

(1) identifying children who are most at risk for

abuse and neglect before they enter child protective services,

families stand the best chance at staying together, and children

have the best odds for a healthy, productive, and fulfilling life.

(b) The commission shall provide grants to community-based,

nonprofit organizations to focused on an areas of need, not greater

than one-square mile, in a county that is ranked among the five

counties with the highest per capita rates of child abuse and

neglect.

Sec. 264.1693. APPLICATION AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.

(a) A community-based, nonprofit organization may apply to the

commission to receive money under the grant program if the

organization:

(1) is headquartered in Texas;

(2) provides a child-centered strategy that is

available to each child in the identified region;

(3) demonstrates a current and valid data-sharing

agreement with a state agency;

(4) demonstrates municipal and/or county support for

program and agreement to coordinate with grantee to administer

program;

(5) possess current and valid authorization to provide

services to children in foster care;

(6) use generally accepted statistical methods to

demonstrate services provide a positive impact on the well-being of

children in program, and successfully prevent incidences of abuse

and neglect;

(7) uses a generally accepted psychological

assessment before providing services and upon program completion to

demonstrate a positive impact on the well-being and mental health,

of children served; and

(8) use a generally accepted psychological assessment

before providing services and upon program completion to

demonstrate a positive impact on the well-being and mental health,

of children served; and

(9) submit an annual report to HHSC providing

information on program participant outcomes, and recommendations

for best-practice prevention strategies for consideration in other

regions in the state.

(b) The commission may award grants under the grant program

to eligible applicants.

Sec. 264.1694. FUNDING. (a) The commission shall award

grants under the program in accordance with this chapter from money

appropriated for the purposes of the program.

(b) Out of money appropriated to the commission that is

available for the purpose, the commission shall allocate a minimum

of $10 million each fiscal biennium to award grants under this

subchapter.

(1)

Sec. 264.1695. RULES. The executive commissioner shall

adopt rules to implement this chapter.

SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2026, the executive

commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall

adopt the rules necessary to implement Chapter , Code, as

added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.