85R12418 MM-D By: Dukes H.B. No. 2330 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to information and services for foster children who are pregnant or minor parents. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is amended by adding Section 264.130 to read as follows: Sec. 264.130. PREGNANCY AND PARENTING INFORMATION AND SERVICES. (a) The department shall collect: (1) information on the number of children in the managing conservatorship of the department who are minor parents; (2) information on the number of children in the managing conservatorship of the department who are also the children of minor parents as described by Subdivision (1); and (3) with respect to each child who is a minor parent and each child of a minor parent in the managing conservatorship of the department, statistics regarding each child's: (A) age; (B) ethnicity; (C) type of substitute care placement; (D) county of residence; and (E) length of time in substitute care. (b) The department shall prepare an annual report on the information collected under Subsection (a) and make the report available on the department's Internet website. The report may not include any individually identifiable information regarding a minor parent or child who is the subject of information in the report. (c) The department at developmentally appropriate stages shall provide to children in the managing conservatorship of the department who are pregnant or who are minor parents information on and support in providing safe environments for children, including information and support regarding: (1) safe sleeping arrangements; (2) suggestions for childproofing potentially dangerous settings in a home; (3) methods to cope with crying infants; (4) selection of appropriate substitute caregivers; (5) a child's early brain development, including the importance of meeting an infant's developmental needs by providing positive experiences and avoiding adverse experiences; (6) the importance of paternal involvement in a child's life; and (7) the benefits of reading and talking to young children. (d) The department shall provide parenting skills training and other services, including depression screening services, to children in the managing conservatorship of the department who are pregnant or minor parents. (e) The department shall appropriately recruit, prepare, train, and support individuals, including foster parents, substitute caregivers, and mentors, who work directly with children in the managing conservatorship of the department who are pregnant or minor parents to ensure the individuals provide the specialized care and support needed by those children. SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the Department of Family and Protective Services shall collect the information, prepare the report, and provide the services necessary to implement Section 264.130, Family Code, as added by this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.