81R26408 MCK-D
 
  By: Rose H.B. No. 4806
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to court-appointed volunteer advocates in certain suits
  affecting the parent-child relationship.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 264.601(2), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
               (2)  "Volunteer advocate program" means a
  volunteer-based, nonprofit program that:
                     (A)  provides advocacy services to abused or
  neglected children with the goal of obtaining a permanent placement
  for a child that is in the child's best interest; and
                     (B)  complies with recognized standards for
  volunteer advocate programs.
         SECTION 2.  Section 264.602, Family Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (f) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  The statewide organization with which the attorney
  general contracts under Section 264.603 shall contract for services
  with eligible volunteer advocate programs to provide advocacy
  services to abused or neglected children [expand the existing
  services of the programs].
         (f)  Expenses incurred by a volunteer advocate program to
  promote public awareness of the need for volunteer advocates or to
  explain the work performed by volunteer advocates are not
  considered administrative expenses for the purpose of Section
  264.603(b).
         SECTION 3.  Section 264.603(a), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  The attorney general shall contract with one statewide
  organization of individuals or groups of individuals who have
  expertise in the dynamics of child abuse and neglect and experience
  in operating volunteer advocate programs to provide training,
  technical assistance, and evaluation services for the benefit of
  local volunteer advocate programs. The contract shall:
               (1)  include [require] measurable goals and objectives
  relating to the number of:
                     (A)  volunteer advocates in the program; and
                     (B)  children receiving services from the
  program; and
               (2)  follow practices designed to ensure compliance
  with standards referenced in the contract [for expanding local
  volunteer child advocate programs to areas of the state in which
  those programs do not exist].
         SECTION 4.  Section 264.604(a), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  A person is eligible for a contract under Section
  264.602 only if the person is a public or private nonprofit entity
  that operates a volunteer advocate program that:
               (1)  uses individuals appointed as volunteer advocates
  or guardians ad litem by the court to provide for the needs of
  abused or neglected children;
               (2)  has provided court-appointed advocacy services
  for at least six months [two years];
               (3)  provides court-appointed advocacy services for at
  least 10 children each month; and
               (4)  has demonstrated that the program has local
  judicial support.
         SECTION 5.  The following provisions of the Family Code are
  repealed:
               (1)  Section 264.602(c); and
               (2)  Sections 264.607(b) and (c).
         SECTION 6.  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, 2009.