Detail

This bill has three major sections.

Section 1 requires the Governor to establish a Texas mentoring initiative to fund activities that create or expand mentoring opportunities, promote responsible fatherhood and healthy marriages, and increase the capacity of faith- and community-based organizations to provide
mentoring services.

Section 2 requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to establish a searchable Internet database of opportunities for volunteers and faith- and community-based organization to provide assistance to state agencies in delivering services

Section 3 requires a number of state agencies to designate liaisons for faith- and community-based organizations and creates an inter-agency coordinating group composed of these liaisons. The section requires that a center for faith- and community-based initiatives be established within HHSC. The section establishes the Renewing Our Communities Account as an account in the General Revenue Fund that may only be appropriated to HHSC. The section creates the faith- and community-based initiatives advisory committee./1/

Proposed Amendments

TFN proposes the following changes to the language.
* Require all agencies receiving state funds to be subject to open records and open meetings laws
* Require a biennial report on who is receiving the funding and for what purposes
* Bring in independent oversight, most likely through the comptroller’s office./2/

Additional Links

/1/ LBB Fiscal Note
/2/ Wright, Matthew "The Spirit of the Bill" Texas Observer Blog 2/21/07