85R10981 JG-F By: White H.B. No. 4228 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to a memorandum of understanding between certain state agencies related to training of employees and contractors who provide certain services to children and families. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Sections 533.0415(a), (d), and (e), Health and Safety Code, are amended to read as follows: (a) The executive commissioner, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, and the Texas Education Agency by rule shall adopt a joint memorandum of understanding to develop interagency training for individuals employed or contracted by [the staffs of] the department, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, the Department of Family and Protective Services, and the Texas Education Agency who are involved in the functions of assessment, case planning, case management, and in-home or direct delivery of services to children, youth, and their families under this title. The memorandum must: (1) outline the responsibility of each agency in coordinating, [and] developing, and implementing a plan for interagency training on effective [individualized] assessment, [and effective] intervention, and treatment services that are individualized and provided in the least restrictive environment appropriate for children and [dysfunctional] families; [and] (2) identify the available training programs administered by the state agencies identified by this subsection and the eligibility requirements for those programs; and (3) provide for the establishment of an interagency work group [task force] to identify: (A) common training needs for individuals employed or contracted by the state agencies identified by this subsection [develop a training program to include identified competencies, content, and hours for completion of the training with at least 20 hours of training required each year until the program is completed]; and (B) existing training and technical assistance resources, including web-based resources, available across the state agencies identified by this subsection that can be used to the greatest extent possible for the implementation of the plan described by Subdivision (1) [design a plan for implementing the program, including regional site selection, frequency of training, and selection of experienced clinical public and private professionals or consultants to lead the training; and [(C) monitor, evaluate, and revise the training program, including the development of additional curricula based on future training needs identified by staff and professionals]. (d) The appropriate division of the commission designated by the commission shall act as the lead state agency in coordinating the development and implementation of the memorandum. (e) The executive commissioner and the state agencies identified by Subsection (a) shall review and by rule revise the memorandum not later than August of each odd-numbered year. SECTION 2. Sections 533.0415(b) and (c), Health and Safety Code, are repealed. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.