By: Paxton S.B. No. 1528               A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to prevention and early intervention services by the   Department of Family and Protective Services.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  The purpose for this Act is to improve the   delivery of prevention and early intervention services for certain   children while maximizing the efficient use of taxpayer dollars   through a community-based approach.          SECTION 2.  Section 265.007, Family Code, is amended to read   as follows:          Sec. 265.007.  IMPROVING PROVISION OF PREVENTION AND EARLY   INTERVENTION SERVICES. (a) In this section, "adverse childhood   experience" means a potentially traumatic event that occurs in the   life of a person younger than 18 years of age, including:                (1)  abuse as defined by Section 261.001, Family Code;                (2)  family violence as defined by Section 71.004,   Family Code;                (3)  neglect as defined by Section 261.001, Family   Code;                (4)  death of a parent; and                (5)  substance use disorder, mental illness, or   incarceration of a member of a child's household.          (a-1)  To improve the effectiveness and delivery of   prevention and early intervention services, the department shall:                (1)  identify geographic areas that have a high need   for prevention and early intervention services but do not have   prevention and early intervention services available in the area or   have only unevaluated prevention and early intervention services   available in the area; [and]                (2)  develop a request for information to assist the   department in the development of the strategic plan described in   Section 265.005 to improve prevention and early intervention   services;                (3)  send the request for information developed under   Subdivision (2) to a diverse set of stakeholders and providers   throughout the state, including:                      (A)  state and local agencies and nonprofit   organizations that work directly with children and families;                      (B)  child welfare service providers;                      (C)  early childhood education programs;                      (D)  public schools;                      (E)  medical and mental health service providers;                      (F)  family support and social services   providers;                      (G)  the law enforcement, judicial, and criminal   justice communities;                      (H)  faith-based organizations;                      (I)  the intellectual or developmental disability   community;                      (J)  families and children impacted by child   abuse, neglect, and other adverse childhood experiences;                      (K)  the business and philanthropic communities;   and                      (L)  single source continuum contractors; and                (4)  in collaboration with the Health and Human   Services Commission, the Department of State Health Services, the   Texas Education Agency, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the   Office of the Attorney General:                      (A)  develop an inventory of programs and services   that are funded by the state that contribute to the prevention of   child abuse, neglect, and other adverse childhood experiences;                      (B)  develop an inventory of programs and services   that are provided by other entities, including those listed in   Section 265.007(a-1)(3), Family Code, that contribute to the   prevention of child abuse, neglect, and other adverse childhood   experiences;                      (C)  facilitate opportunities to increase   collaboration for the effective expenditure of available federal   and state funds and better leverage public and private partnerships   to increase efficiency; and                      (D)  develop strategies for community partners   to:                            (i) [(A)]  improve the early recognition of   child abuse or neglect;                            (ii) [(B)]  improve the reporting of child   abuse and neglect; [and]                            (iii) [(C)]  reduce child fatalities;                            (iv)  improve the ability of community   partners to distinguish situations in which a child is in imminent   danger from situations in which the child and child's family would   be better served by providing community-based services; and                            (v)  implement cross-sector, evidence-based   practices that prevent adverse childhood experiences.          (b)  The entities listed in Subsection (a-1)(4) shall:                (1)  use a community awareness approach to implement   the strategies and recommendations developed under this section;   and                (2)  request information and invite comment from   representatives of single source continuum contractors.          (c)  The department may not use data techniques, including   predictive analytics, risk-based modeling, and other similar   assessments, to develop, deliver, or implement prevention and early   intervention services as it relates to adverse childhood   experiences.          (d)  The department may not use data gathered under this   section to identify a specific family or individual.          SECTION 3.  Not later than December 1, 2022, the Department   of Family and Protective Services shall submit a report to the   legislature and the governor that includes:                (1)  a summary of community feedback, available data,   best practices, and implementable changes within the entities   listed in Section 265.007(a-1)(4), Family Code, as added by this   Act, with regard to the progress of efforts made under Section   265.007, Family Code, as amended by this Act; and                (2)  specific short-term and long-term statutory,   administrative, and budget-related recommendations for reforms   necessary to improve the delivery of prevention and intervention   services across state agencies.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.