Bill Text: TX SB245 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Enrolled

---

Bill Title: Relating to eligibility of children's advocacy centers for contracts to provide services for children and family members in child abuse and neglect cases.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2013-05-24 - Effective on 9/1/13 [SB245 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-SB245-Enrolled.html

---

S.B. No. 245

AN ACT
relating to eligibility of children's advocacy centers for
contracts to provide services for children and family members in
child abuse and neglect cases.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 264.411, Family Code, is amended to read
as follows:
Sec. 264.411. ELIGIBILITY FOR CONTRACTS. (a) A public
entity that operated as a center under this subchapter before
November 1, 1995, or a nonprofit entity is eligible for a contract
under Section 264.410 if the entity:
(1) has a signed memorandum of understanding as
provided by Section 264.403;
(2) operates under the authority of a governing board
as provided by Section 264.404;
(3) has a multidisciplinary team of persons involved
in the investigation or prosecution of child abuse cases or the
delivery of services as provided by Section 264.406;
(4) holds regularly scheduled case reviews as provided
by Section 264.406;
(5) operates in a neutral and physically separate
space from the day-to-day operations of any public agency partner;
(6) has developed a method of statistical information
gathering on children receiving services through the center and
shares such statistical information with the statewide
organization, the department, and the office of the attorney
general when requested;
(7) has an in-house volunteer program;
(8) employs an executive director who is answerable to
the board of directors of the entity and who is not the exclusive
salaried employee of any public agency partner; [and]
(9) operates under a working protocol that includes a
statement of:
(A) the center's mission;
(B) each agency's role and commitment to the
center;
(C) the type of cases to be handled by the center;
(D) the center's procedures for conducting case
reviews and forensic interviews and for ensuring access to
specialized medical and mental health services; and
(E) the center's policies regarding
confidentiality and conflict resolution; and
(10) implements at the center the following program
components:
(A) a case tracking system that monitors
statistical information on each child and nonoffending family
member or other caregiver who receives services through the center
and that includes progress and disposition information for each
service the multidisciplinary team determines should be provided to
the client;
(B) a child-focused setting that is comfortable,
private, and physically and psychologically safe for diverse
populations of children and nonoffending family members and other
caregivers;
(C) family advocacy and victim support services
that include comprehensive case management and victim support
services available to each child and the child's nonoffending
family members or other caregivers as part of the services the
multidisciplinary team determines should be provided to a client;
(D) forensic interviews conducted in a neutral,
fact-finding manner and coordinated to avoid duplicative
interviewing;
(E) specialized medical evaluation and treatment
services that are available to all children who receive services
through the center and coordinated with the services the
multidisciplinary team determines should be provided to a child;
(F) specialized trauma-focused mental health
services that are designed to meet the unique needs of child abuse
victims and the victims' nonoffending family members or other
caregivers and that are available as part of the services the
multidisciplinary team determines should be provided to a client;
and
(G) a system to ensure that all services
available to center clients are culturally competent and diverse
and are coordinated with the services the multidisciplinary team
determines should be provided to a client.
(b) The statewide organization may waive the requirements
specified in Subsection (a) if it determines that the waiver will
not adversely affect the center's ability to carry out its duties
under Section 264.405. [Any waiver that is granted must be
identified in the written contract with the center.]
SECTION 2. Section 264.411, Family Code, as amended by this
Act, applies only to a contract entered into under Section 264.410,
Family Code, on or after the effective date of this Act. A contract
entered into before the effective date of this Act is governed by
the law in effect on the date the contract was entered into, and the
former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 245 passed the Senate on
March 13, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 245 passed the House on
May 8, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 5, two present
not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor