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.