Sec. 531.802. COUNCIL ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

(a) The Council on Children and Families is established to:

(1) coordinate the state's health, education, and human services systems to ensure that children and families have access to needed services;

(2) improve coordination and efficiency in state agencies, advisory councils on issues affecting children, and local levels of service;

(3) prioritize and mobilize resources for children;

(4) facilitate an integrated approach to providing services for children and youth; and

(5) promote the sharing of information regarding children and their families among state agencies.

(b) The council shall:

(1) promote a common vision of desired outcomes for children and youth and of family and community supports;

(2) promote shared accountability for outcomes for children and youth; and

(3) align allocations of resources with policies for children and youth.

(c) Subject to Subsection (d), the council is composed of the following:

(1) the executive commissioner;

(2) the commissioner of state health services;

(3) the commissioner of the Department of Family and Protective Services;

(4) the commissioner of aging and disability services;

(5) the commissioner of assistive and rehabilitative services;

(6) the commissioner of education;

(7) the executive director of the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission;

(8) the executive commissioner of the Texas Youth Commission;

(9) the executive director of the Texas Workforce Commission;

(10) the director of the Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments;

(11) two public representatives who are parents of children who have received services from an agency represented on the council, appointed by the executive commissioner; and

(12) two representatives who are young adults or adolescents who have received services from an agency represented on the council, appointed by the executive commissioner.

(d) An individual listed in Subsections (c)(1)-(10) may designate another individual as having authority to act on behalf of the individual at council meetings and with respect to council functions.

(e) The members of the council annually shall elect one member to serve as the presiding officer.

(f) Council meetings are held at the call of the presiding officer.

(g) The council is administratively attached to the commission but is independent of direction by the commission or the executive commissioner. The commission, through the commission's Office of Program Coordination for Children and Youth, shall provide administrative support and resources to the council as necessary to enable the council to perform its duties.

(h) The agencies represented on the council shall provide periodic staff support of specialists as needed to the council.

(i) The council is not subject to Chapter 2110.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 819 , Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009. Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 899 , Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2011.