89R2663 MCF-F     By: West S.B. No. 698       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the creation of the Office of Youth Health and Safety.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 523, Government Code, is amended by   adding Subchapter I to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER I.  OFFICE OF YOUTH HEALTH AND SAFETY          Sec. 523.0401.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:                (1)  "Board" means the Board of Youth Health and   Safety.                (2)  "Child" means an individual 10 years of age or   older and younger than 18 years of age who is under the jurisdiction   of a juvenile court.                (3)  "Office" means the Office of Youth Health and   Safety.          Sec. 523.0402.  OFFICE OF YOUTH HEALTH AND SAFETY. The   executive commissioner shall maintain an office of youth health and   safety within the commission's Office of Forensic Coordination with   the goal of:                (1)  promoting trauma-responsive and culturally   informed services for children engaging in delinquent conduct in a   manner that supports the child's successful transition to   adulthood; and                (2)  ensuring children become responsible, thriving,   and engaged members of their communities.          Sec. 523.0403.  COMPOSITION OF BOARD; PRESIDING OFFICER.     (a)  The board is the governing body of the office.          (b)  The board is composed of the following 21 members or   their designees:                (1)  the executive commissioner;                (2)  the chief officer of the commission's Medicaid and   CHIP services division;                (3)  the deputy executive commissioner of the   Intellectual and Developmental Disability and Behavioral Health   Services Department;                (4)  the director of the Early Childhood Education   Division at the Texas Education Agency;                (5)  the following members appointed by the executive   commissioner:                      (A)  a member of the judiciary;                      (B)  an attorney with experience in defending   civil rights cases;                      (C)  a member of the Texas Judicial Commission on   Mental Health;                      (D)  a faculty member from the medical school at   The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio;                      (E)  a licensed trauma-informed youth counselor;                      (F)  an education advocate;                      (G)  two culturally responsive juvenile justice   advocates;                      (H)  a culturally responsive youth mental health   advocate;                      (I)  a harm reduction advocate; and                      (J)  a representative of the Texas Correctional   Office on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments; and                (6)  the following members appointed by the executive   commissioner from recommendations made by the presiding officer:                      (A)  a child welfare advocate;                      (B)  two youth advocates;                      (C)  two individuals formerly committed to a   juvenile secure correctional facility who are able to serve as   credible messengers for detained youth; and                      (D)  a mitigation specialist.          (c)  Board members appointed under Subsections (b)(5) and   (6) serve staggered six-year terms, with the terms of five or six   members expiring on February 1 of each odd-numbered year.          (d)  The executive commissioner shall designate a member of   the board as the presiding officer to serve in that capacity at the   pleasure of the executive commissioner.          Sec. 523.0404.  PLAN. (a) The office shall develop a plan to   improve the juvenile justice system under the authority of the   office.          (b)  The plan must include a detailed list of procedures and   strategies to:                (1)  not later than September 1, 2028:                      (A)  end commitments of children to   post-adjudication secure correctional facilities operated by the   Texas Juvenile Justice Department;                      (B)  significantly reduce the population of   children currently committed to post-adjudication secure   correctional facilities operated by the Texas Juvenile Justice   Department;                      (C)  establish infrastructure in each county in   this state to provide alternative services related to delinquency   prevention and intervention, including alternative evidence-based   safe, local, and supportive placements for children who are not   able to stay at home;                      (D)  establish secure placement options for   children who are determined by a court to present a serious risk of   harm to self or others;                      (E)  increase local, evidence-based delinquency   responses and interventions in communities and schools; and                      (F)  end racial and disability disparities for   children in the juvenile justice system; and                (2)  conduct a study on the feasibility of a staggered   closure of all post-adjudication secure correctional facilities   operated by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.          (c)  In developing the plan, the office shall consult with   experts and interested parties, including juvenile probation   departments.          (d)  Not later than January 1, 2027, the office shall submit   a copy of the plan to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the   speaker of the house of representatives, and each member of the   legislature.          (e)  This section expires September 1, 2032.          SECTION 2.  Not later than the 60th day after the effective   date of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human   Services Commission shall appoint members to the Board of Youth   Health and Safety in accordance with Section 523.0403, Government   Code, as added by this Act. In appointing the initial members of   the board under this section, the executive commissioner shall   designate six members for terms expiring February 1, 2027, six   members for terms expiring February 1, 2029, and five members for   terms expiring February 1, 2031.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.