SRC-JBJ S.B. 994 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 994
76R6359 KKA-DBy: Lindsay
Jurisprudence
4/9/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, children's advocacy centers maintain a funding stream through
the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (DPRS).  DPRS partners
with the advocacy centers; thus, shifting the advocacy centers' funding to
the Office of Attorney General will provide a more neutral funding source.
In addition, the change in funding allows advocacy centers to access Crime
Victims Compensation Funds because the children are considered victims of
crime.  The move is supported by the statewide contracting agency for child
advocacy centers, Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas, Inc.  S.B. 994
would amend administration and funding guidelines for children's advocacy
centers.  

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 994 amends administration and funding guidelines for
children's advocacy centers. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 264.409, Family Code, to require the attorney
general, rather than the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services
(department), to contract with a statewide organization to establish and
operate a children's advocacy center programs. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 264.410(a), Family Code, to require that the
statewide organization that contracted with the attorney general, rather
than the department, under Section 264.409, to contract with other centers
for services to enhance the existing program. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 264.411, Family Code, to authorize eligibility
for a contract under Section 264.410, if an entity has developed a method
of statistical information gathering on children receiving services and
shares the statistics with the statewide organization, the department, and
the attorney general when requested.  Authorizes the statewide organization
to waive the eligibility requirement, but a denial for a waiver may be
appealed to the attorney general or a designate, rather than the
departments' executive director, who may reverse the decision.  Requires
the statewide organization to contract with the center, if the attorney
general or the designate approves the request.  
SECTION 4.  Amends Chapter 412B, Government Code, by adding Section
412.017, as follows: 

Sec. 412.017.  FUNDING FOR CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS.  Authorizes the
attorney general to provide financial support from the fund under Section
56.541(c), Code of Criminal Procedure, to a statewide organization that
contracts with the attorney general under Section 264.409, Family Code.
Requires that financial support be used to benefit children's advocacy
centers eligible for assistance under Section 264.411, Family Code. 

SECTION 5.Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 6.Emergency clause.