By: Gallegos S.B. No. 1869
(In the Senate - Filed April 19, 2005; April 21, 2005, read
first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human Services;
May 6, 2005, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 6, 2005, sent
to printer.)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1869 By: Janek
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the Harris County Board of Protective Services for
Children and Adults.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subdivisions (1) and (3), Subsection (a),
Section 152.1073, Human Resources Code, are amended to read as
follows:
(1) "Board" means the Harris County Board of
[Children's] Protective Services for Children and Adults [Board].
(3) "Institution" means an institution for the care
and protection of children and adults who have been abandoned or
abused, or are for any other reason in need of protective services.
The term does not include a detention facility for adults or
delinquent children or children in need of supervision or a
facility primarily for adults or children with severe psychological
or other medical conditions.
SECTION 2. Subsections (g) and (h), Section 152.1073, Human
Resources Code, are amended to read as follows:
(g) In addition to the authority granted to the board by the
commissioners court, [and] the [Texas] Department of Aging and
Disability [Human] Services, and the Department of Family and
Protective Services, the board may:
(1) disburse funds from sources other than the
commissioners court, [and] the [Texas] Department of Aging and
Disability [Human] Services, and the Department of Family and
Protective Services to benefit children and adults under this
section and to provide care, protection, evaluation, training,
treatment, education, and recreation to those children and adults;
(2) refuse to accept any funds the board considers to
be inappropriate, incompatible, or burdensome to board policies or
the provision of services;
(3) accept a gift or grant of real or personal property
or accept support under or an interest in a trust to benefit
children or adults under this section and hold the gift or grant
directly or in trust;
(4) use a gift or grant to benefit children or adults
under this section and to provide care, protection, education, or
training to those children and adults;
(5) accept and disburse as provided by Subdivision (1)
fees and contributions from parents, guardians, and relatives of
children and adults who are:
(A) in county supported substitute care or
custody; or
(B) being assisted by casework, day care, or
homemaker services, by medical, psychological, dental, or other
remedial help, or by teaching, training, or other services;
(6) account for and spend funds the board receives as
fees, contributions, payments made by guardians, or payments made
to benefit a child or an adult in a program regulated by the board
[in the board's legal custody];
(7) receive and disburse funds available to support or
benefit a child or adult in the board's legal custody, including
social security benefits, Medicaid or Medicare benefits,
Supplemental Security Income or Social Security disability
benefits, life insurance proceeds, survivors' pension or annuity
benefits, or a beneficial interest in property; [and]
(8) receive and use funds, grants, and assistance
available to the board from a federal or state department or agency
to carry out the functions and programs of the department or agency
that is designed to aid or extend programs and operations approved
by the board; and
(9) create or operate a guardianship program as
defined under Section 601, Texas Probate Code.
(h) The board shall designate the director or an assistant
to apply for letters of guardianship or to sign court documents if
necessary to receive funds under Subsection (g)(7). The director
or an assistant may:
(1) apply for and disburse the funds to provide
special items of support for children and adults under this section
or to pay general administrative expenses relating to services
under this section;
(2) hold the funds in trust; or
(3) apply the funds for a particular or more
restricted purpose as required by law or the source of the funds.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.
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