Sec. 531.957. DUTIES

(a) The task force shall:

(1) receive reports and testimony from individuals, state and local agencies, community-based organizations, and other public and private organizations, including:

(A) adult survivors of family violence that have been impacted by child protective services investigations; and

(B) young adults who as children were impacted by both family violence and child protective services intervention; and

(2) develop policy recommendations for addressing the relationship between family violence and child abuse and neglect and develop comprehensive statewide best practices guidelines for both child protective services and family violence shelter centers.

(b) In developing policy recommendations and best practices guidelines under Subsection (a)(2), the task force shall:

(1) examine the findings and recommendations of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Family Violence Department's report "Effective Intervention in Domestic Violence & Child Maltreatment Cases: Guidelines for Policy and Practice"; and

(2) examine the key concepts regarding child safety plans and decision making found in the 2009 edition of the American Bar Association's "Child Safety: A Guide for Judges and Attorneys."

(c) The task force shall prepare a report that includes:

(1) a description of the activities of the task force;

(2) the findings and recommendations of the task force, including the proposed policy recommendations and guidelines required by Subsection (a)(2); and

(3) any legislation or other matter that the task force considers appropriate.

(d) Not later than September 1, 2012, the task force shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the appropriate committees of the senate and the house of representatives the report required by Subsection (c).

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 608 , Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2011.