By: Swanson H.B. No. 4544       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the issuance of personal identification certificates to   youths committed to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 245, Human Resources Code,   is amended by adding Section 245.003 to read as follows:          245.003 STATE-ISSUED IDENTIFICATION; NECESSARY   DOCUMENTATION. (a) Before releasing a child under supervision, the   department shall:                (1)  determine whether the child has:                      (A)  a valid license issued under Chapter 521,   Transportation Code; or                      (B)  a valid personal identification certificate   issued under Chapter 521, Transportation Code; and                (2)  if the child does not have a valid license or   certificate described by Subdivision (1), submit to the Department   of Public Safety on behalf of the child a request for the issuance   of a personal identification certificate under Chapter 521,   Transportation Code.          (b)  The department shall submit a request under Subsection   (a)(2) as soon as is practicable to enable the department to provide   the child with the personal identification certificate when the   department discharges or releases the child.          (c)  The department, the Department of Public Safety, and the   bureau of vital statistics of the Department of State Health   Services shall by rule adopt a memorandum of understanding that   establishes their respective responsibilities with respect to the   issuance of a personal identification certificate to a child,   including responsibilities related to verification of the child's   identity. The memorandum of understanding must require the   Department of State Health Services to electronically verify the   birth record of a child whose name and any other personal   information is provided by the department and to electronically   report the recorded filing information to the Department of Public   Safety to validate the identity of a child under this section.          (d)  The department shall reimburse the Department of Public   Safety or the Department of State Health Services for the actual   costs incurred by those agencies in performing responsibilities   established under this section. The department may charge the   child's parent or guardian for the actual costs incurred under this   section or the fees required by Section 521.421, Transportation   Code.          (e)  This section does not apply to a child who:                (1)  is not legally present in the United States; or                (2)  was not a resident of this state before the person   was placed in the custody of the department.          SECTION 2.  Section 245.0535, Human Resources Code, is   amended by amending Subsection (e)(2) to read as follows:          Sec. 245.0535.  COMPREHENSIVE REENTRY AND REINTEGRATION   PLAN FOR CHILDREN; STUDY AND REPORT. (a) The department shall   develop a comprehensive plan for each child committed to the   custody of the department to reduce recidivism and ensure the   successful reentry and reintegration of the child into the   community following the child's release under supervision or final   discharge, as applicable, from the department. The plan for a child   must be designed to ensure that the child receives an extensive   continuity of care in services from the time the child is committed   to the department to the time of the child's final discharge from   the department. The plan for a child must include, as applicable:                (1)  housing assistance;                (2)  a step-down program, such as placement in a   halfway house;                (3)  family counseling;                (4)  academic and vocational mentoring;                (5)  trauma counseling for a child who is a victim of   abuse while in the custody of the department; and                (6)  other specialized treatment services appropriate   for the child.          (b)  The comprehensive reentry and reintegration plan   developed under this section must provide for:                (1)  an assessment of each child committed to the   department to determine which skills the child needs to develop to   be successful in the community following release under supervision   or final discharge;                (2)  programs that address the assessed needs of each   child;                (3)  a comprehensive network of transition programs to   address the needs of children released under supervision or finally   discharged from the department;                (4)  the identification of providers of existing local   programs and transitional services with whom the department may   contract under this section to implement the reentry and   reintegration plan; and                (5)  subject to Subsection (c), the sharing of   information between local coordinators, persons with whom the   department contracts under this section, and other providers of   services as necessary to adequately assess and address the needs of   each child.          (c)  A child's personal health information may be disclosed   under Subsection (b)(5) only in the manner authorized by Section   244.051 or other state or federal law, provided that the disclosure   does not violate the Health Insurance Portability and   Accountability Act of 1996 (Pub. L. No. 104-191).          (d)  The programs provided under Subsections (b)(2) and (3)   must:                (1)  be implemented by highly skilled staff who are   experienced in working with reentry and reintegration programs for   children;                (2)  provide children with:                      (A)  individualized case management and a full   continuum of care;                      (B)  life-skills training, including information   about budgeting, money management, nutrition, and exercise;                      (C)  education and, if a child has a learning   disability, special education;                      (D)  employment training;                      (E)  appropriate treatment programs, including   substance abuse and mental health treatment programs; and                      (F)  parenting and relationship-building classes;   and                (3)  be designed to build for children post-release and   post-discharge support from the community into which the child is   released under supervision or finally discharged, including   support from agencies and organizations within that community.          (e)  The department may contract and coordinate with private   vendors, units of local government, or other entities to implement   the comprehensive reentry and reintegration plan developed under   this section, including contracting to:                (1)  coordinate the supervision and services provided   to children during the time children are in the custody of the   department with any supervision or services provided children who   have been released under supervision or finally discharged from the   department;                (2)  provide children awaiting release under   supervision or final discharge with documents that are necessary   after release or discharge, including identification papers,   medical prescriptions, job training certificates, a personal   identification certificate obtained under Section 245.003, if   available, and referrals to services; and                (3)  provide housing and structured programs,   including programs for recovering substance abusers, through which   children are provided services immediately following release under   supervision or final discharge.          (f)  To ensure accountability, any contract entered into   under this section must contain specific performance measures that   the department shall use to evaluate compliance with the terms of   the contract.          (h)  The department shall conduct and coordinate research to   determine whether the comprehensive reentry and reintegration plan   developed under this section reduces recidivism rates.          (i)  Not later than December 31 of each even-numbered year,   the department shall deliver a report of the results of research   conducted or coordinated under Subsection (h) to the lieutenant   governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the   standing committees of each house of the legislature with primary   jurisdiction over juvenile justice and corrections.          (j)  If a program or service in the child's comprehensive   reentry and reintegration plan is not available at the time the   child is to be released, the department shall find a suitable   alternative program or service so that the child's release is not   postponed.          (k)  The department shall:                (1)  clearly explain the comprehensive reentry and   reintegration plan and any conditions of supervision to a child who   will be released on supervision; and                (2)  require each child committed to the department   that is to be released on supervision to acknowledge and sign a   document containing any conditions of supervision.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.