89R5724 RAL-D     By: Thompson H.B. No. 1955       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment of an early childhood mental health   home visiting grant program.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 137, Human Resources Code, is amended by   adding Subchapter G to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER G. EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH HOME VISITING GRANT   PROGRAM          Sec. 137.301.  ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF EARLY   CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH HOME VISITING GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The   commission shall establish and operate an early childhood mental   health home visiting grant program through which the commission   will award grants to implement, expand, and maintain early   childhood mental health home visiting services in this state to   support families with a high level of need, including a history of   trauma.          (b)  To be eligible for a grant under this subchapter, an   applicant must:                (1)  demonstrate a commitment to a family-centered,   system of care approach to providing comprehensive, coordinated   services to children and families; and                (2)  have experience providing successful early   childhood mental health or prevention services for low-income,   high-risk families, as the executive commissioner determines by   rule.          (c)  In awarding a grant under this subchapter, the   commission shall give preference to applicants with experience in   providing home-based services to children and families.          (d)  The commission may award a grant under this subchapter   only in accordance with a contract between the commission and grant   recipient. The contract must include provisions under which the   commission is granted sufficient control to ensure the public   purpose of providing early childhood mental health home visiting   services is accomplished and this state receives the return   benefit.          Sec. 137.302.  STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS. (a) The   executive commissioner by rule shall adopt standards for grant   recipients under this subchapter. In adopting the standards, the   executive commissioner shall take into consideration applicable   evidence-based early childhood home visiting service delivery   models.          (b)  In addition to meeting the standards the executive   commissioner adopts under Subsection (a), a grant recipient under   this subchapter must:                (1)  strictly adhere to an evidence-based early   childhood service delivery model the commission selects in   accordance with criteria set by the United States Department of   Health and Human Services for an early childhood home visiting   service delivery model; and                (2)  require that a team consisting of a licensed   mental health professional and a care coordinator support families   through home-based services to:                      (A)  improve child and parent mental health;                      (B)  promote school readiness;                      (C)  decrease child abuse and neglect; and                      (D)  improve the immediate and long-term health   and well-being of families.          Sec. 137.303.  FUNDING. The commission may solicit,   contract for, receive, accept, or administer gifts, grants, and   donations of money or property from any source to carry out this   subchapter.          Sec. 137.304.  RULES. The executive commissioner may adopt   rules as necessary to implement this subchapter.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.