HB5536 - Relating to the establishment of a child protective services prevention grant program.

      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.