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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an innovation grant program for community faith-based |
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programs that collaborate with the Department of Family and |
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Protective Services to improve foster care. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 264, Family Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 264.2042 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 264.2042. GRANTS FOR FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY |
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COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS. (a) Subject to the availability of funds, |
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the department shall establish and administer an innovation grant |
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program to award grants to support faith-based community programs |
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that collaborate with the department and the commission to improve |
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foster care and the placement of children in foster care. |
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(b) A faith-based community program is eligible for a grant |
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under this section if: |
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(1) the effectiveness of the program is supported by |
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empirical evidence; and |
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(2) the program has demonstrated the ability to build |
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connections between faith-based, secular, and government |
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stakeholders. |
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(c) The regional director for the department in the region |
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where a grant recipient program is located, or the regional |
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director's designee, shall serve as the liaison between the |
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department and the program for collaborative purposes. For a |
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program that operates in a larger region, the department may |
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designate a liaison in each county where the program is operating. |
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The department or the commission may not direct or manage the |
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operation of the program. |
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(d) The initial duration of a grant under this section is |
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two years. The department may renew a grant awarded to a program |
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under this section if the department determines that the program is |
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successful. |
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(e) The department may not award to a program grants under |
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this section totaling more than $300,000. |
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(f) The department shall adopt rules to implement the grant |
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program created under this section. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Department of Family and Protective Services shall |
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adopt rules for the implementation and administration of the |
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innovation grant program established under Section 264.2042, |
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Family Code, as added by this Act, and begin to award grants under |
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the program. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |