(a) Statutory authority. The Policy Council for Children and Families (Policy Council) is established in accordance with Texas Government Code §531.012.
(b) Purpose. The Policy Council works to improve the coordination, quality, efficiency, and outcomes of services provided to children with disabilities and their families through the state's health, education, and human services systems.
(c) Tasks. The Policy Council performs the following tasks:
  (1) studies and makes recommendations to improve coordination between the state's health, education, and human services systems to ensure that children with disabilities and their families have access to high quality services;
  (2) studies and makes recommendations to improve long-term services and supports, including community-based supports for children with special health and mental health care needs, as well as children with disabilities and their families receiving protective services from the state;
  (3) studies and makes recommendations regarding emerging issues affecting the quality and availability of services available to children with disabilities and their families;
  (4) studies and makes recommendations to better align resources with the service needs of children with disabilities and their families;
  (5) studies and makes recommendations to ensure that the needs of children with autism spectrum disorder and their families are addressed, and that all available resources are coordinated to meet those needs;
  (6) makes recommendations regarding the implementation and improvement of the STAR Kids managed care program; and
  (7) performs other tasks consistent with its purpose as requested by the Executive Commissioner.
(d) Reporting requirements.
  (1) Reporting to Executive Commissioner. By December 31 of each year, the Policy Council files a written report with the Executive Commissioner that covers the meetings and activities in the immediately preceding fiscal year. The report includes:
    (A) a list of the meeting dates;
    (B) the members' attendance records;
    (C) a brief description of actions taken by the committee;
    (D) a description of how the committee accomplished its tasks;
    (E) a summary of the status of any committee recommendations to HHSC;
    (F) a description of activities the committee anticipates undertaking in the next fiscal year;
    (G) recommended amendments to this section; and
    (H) the costs related to the committee, including the cost of HHSC staff time spent supporting the committee's activities and the source of funds used to support the committee's activities.
  (2) Reporting to Executive Commissioner and Texas Legislature. By November 1 of each even-numbered year, the Policy Council submits a written report to the Executive Commissioner and Texas Legislature that:
    (A) describes current gaps and barriers to the provision of services to children with disabilities and their families through the state's health and human services system; and
    (B) provides recommendations consistent with the Policy Council's purposes.
(e) The Policy Council complies with the requirements for open meetings under Texas Government Code Chapter 551, as if it were a governmental body.
(f) Membership.
  (1) The Policy Council is composed of 24 members:
    (A) five nonvoting, ex officio members, one from each of the following state programs and agencies or their successors, as selected by the represented agency:
      (i) HHSC Medicaid and CHIP Services;
      (ii) HHSC Health, Developmental & Independence Services;
      (iii) Texas Council on Developmental Disabilities;
      (iv) Texas Department of Family and Protective Services; and
      (v) Texas Department of State Health Services;
    (B) eleven voting members selected by the Executive Commissioner from families with a child under the age of 26 with a disability, including:
      (i) at least one adolescent or young adult under the age of 26 with a disability receiving services from a health and human services system agency; and
      (ii) at least one member of a family of a child with mental health care needs; and
      (iii) at least one member of a family of a child with autism spectrum disorder;
    (C) eight professional voting members, selected by the Executive Commissioner, one each to represent the following types of organizations or areas of expertise:
      (i) a faith-based organization;
      (ii) an organization that is an advocate for children with disabilities;
      (iii) a physician providing services to children with complex needs;
      (iv) an individual with expertise providing mental health services to children with disabilities;
      (v) an organization providing services to children with disabilities and their families;
      (vi) an organization providing community services;
      (vii) an organization or professional that advocates for or provides services or resources to children and the families of children with autism spectrum disorder; and
      (viii) one at large position for an individual with expertise or experience relevant to the purposes and tasks of the Policy Council.
  (2) In selecting members, the Executive Commissioner considers ethnic and minority representation and diverse disability representation.
  (3) Members appointed under paragraph (1)(B) and (C) of this subsection serve staggered terms so that the terms of approximately one-quarter of these members' terms expire on December 31 of each year.
  (4) Except as necessary to stagger terms, the term of office of each non-agency member, described in paragraph (1)(B) and (C) of this subsection, is four years.
  (5) A member with an expiring term may apply to serve one additional term.
  (6) A member with an expiring term may continue to serve on the Policy Council until a new member is appointed.
(g) Officers. The Policy Council selects from among its members a presiding officer and an assistant presiding officer.
  (1) The presiding and assistant presiding officers must be appointed family representatives.
  (2) The presiding officer serves until December 31 of each odd-numbered year. The assistant presiding officer serves until December 31 of each even-numbered year.
  (3) A presiding officer or assistant presiding officer remains in his or her position until the Policy Council selects a successor; however, the individual may not remain in office past the individual's membership term.
(h) Required Training. Each member shall complete all training on relevant statutes and rules, including this section and §351.801 of this subchapter (relating to Authority and General Provisions) and Texas Government Code §531.012, and Texas Government Code Chapters 551 and 2110. HHSC will provide the training.
(i) Date of abolition. The Policy Council is abolished, and this section expires, on December 31, 2024.

Source Note: The provisions of this §351.815 adopted to be effective July 1, 2016, 41 TexReg 4432; amended to be effective December 8, 2020, 45 TexReg 8769