Supporting Life Pilot Serves Only Counties Of 4 Million Or More

The text as introduced · 738 words

89R14160 MPF-D

By: Miles
S.B. No. 2915

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of the supporting life pilot program

as part of the Thriving Texas Families Program.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 54, Health and Safety Code, as added by

Chapter 1033 (S.B. 24), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular

Session, 2023, is amended by adding Section 54.012 to read as

follows:

Sec. 54.012. SUPPORTING LIFE PILOT PROGRAM. (a) In this

section:

(1) "Advisory board" means the supporting life pilot

program advisory board established under this section.

(2) "Pilot program" means the supporting life pilot

program established under this section.

(b) The commission shall establish the supporting life

pilot program to further the goals of the Thriving Texas Families

Program by contracting with service providers to provide care

coordination and support services to pregnant teenagers and by

establishing a centralized facility the commission owns and

operates for provision of services under the pilot program. The

commission shall operate the pilot program in a county with a

population of 4 million or more.

(c) The pilot program services must include:

(1) housing services;

(2) child care services for children 36 months of age

and younger;

(3) early childhood or prekindergarten educational

services;

(4) services provided by a community health worker, as

defined by Section 48.001;

(5) the provision of educational materials on

pregnancy and parenting;

(6) the provision of counseling and therapy services

for pregnant individuals and parents;

(7) the provision of parenting classes;

(8) services designed to support access to educational

opportunities for pregnant individuals and parents, including by

coordinating with counseling and planning services for trade or

vocational schools and institutions of higher education, as defined

by Section 61.003, Education Code; and

(9) the provision of group activities involving

community, educational, recreational, or social functions to

promote the health and well-being of families.

(d) The commission shall operate the pilot program in

consultation with the supporting life pilot program advisory board.

The advisory board is composed of five members appointed by the

executive commissioner.

(e) The commission, in consultation with the advisory

board, shall hire an executive director. The executive director

shall manage the pilot program, including hiring personnel and

managing a budget for the pilot program.

(f) The executive commissioner by rule shall establish

minimum qualifications for an individual serving as the executive

director under Subsection (e).

(g) To be eligible to participate in the pilot program, an

individual must:

(1) be 11 years of age or older but younger than 21

years of age;

(2) be expecting a child or be the parent of a child

who is 36 months of age or younger; and

(3) have resided in the county in which the pilot

program operates for at least one year before applying to

participate in the pilot program.

(h) In evaluating applications for participation in the

pilot program, the commission, in consultation with the advisory

board, shall prioritize unhoused individuals who meet the

eligibility requirements described by Subsection (g).

(i) Not later than December 1 of each year, the commission,

in consultation with the advisory board, shall prepare and submit

to the legislature a written report on:

(1) the outcomes of participants receiving services

under the pilot program;

(2) trends in the coordination of care and the use and

availability of support services with the implementation of the

pilot program; and

(3) any recommendations for legislative or other

action.

(j) The pilot program terminates, the advisory board is

abolished, and this section expires January 1, 2032.

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

commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall

appoint the supporting life pilot program advisory board members as

required by Section 54.012(d), Health and Safety Code, as added by

this Act.

SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2027, the executive

commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall

establish the supporting life pilot program as required by Section

54.012, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, including by

adopting rules as necessary to implement that section.

SECTION 4. Notwithstanding Section 54.012(i), Health and

Safety Code, as added by this Act, the Health and Human Services

Commission and the supporting life pilot program advisory board

shall submit the first report required by that subsection not later

than December 1, 2027.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.