In an age when computers, e-mails, text messages and cell phones allow instant exchanges of knowledge, certain state agencies are still behind the curve on the information highway.

The multitude of state and local agencies responsible for community safety and the health and well being of at-risk youth and juvenile offenders should be sharing pertinent information.  Unfortunately, to the detriment of Texas’ troubled youth, the agencies often do not communicate in a timely and reliable manner.

I believe that sharing information is vital to the health and safety of young Texans and to the entire state.  As a result, I have filed Senate Bill 1311.

My bill would direct the Texas Youth Commission, the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission, the Department of Family and Protective Services, the Texas Education Agency, juvenile probation departments, public school districts, charter schools, mental health and mental retardation agencies, county health departments and hospital districts involved with at-risk youth to share information.

This information would include, but not be limited to, the youth’s identity, needs, mental health conditions and treatment, and social, criminal, educational and vocational histories.

Some information sharing problems are inherent in a system that involves dozens of state and local agencies, some barriers are territorial, and others occur because current state law makes that information confidential.  In addition, the complexity of state and federal laws and regulations that apply to each agency makes it difficult to decide what information may legally be shared.  

Senate Bill 1311 would require agencies to share and accept information relating to at-risk youth regardless of current laws that make such information confidential.  This information would not be released to other state agencies, or to the general public, and it would be held in strictest confidence by the recipients.

Some at-risk youth have mental health issues, others receive special services through public schools, while others wind up in the juvenile justice system. Information shared in a timely manner could make a big difference to at-risk youth by providing more appropriate services or by intervening before juvenile justice services are necessary.

Sharing information also would reduce duplication of services, thereby leveraging dollars, resources and staff.  Currently, when information is exchanged, it is often on an informal, person-to-person basis that is not always reliable. The professional sharing of information among agencies that serve the same population of youth would benefit them, the community and the Texas taxpayer.

Texas State Sen. Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio) represents District 25, which includes part of Bexar County.  He can be reached via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .