By: Walle H.B. No. 2091
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the Harris County Board of Resources for Children and
  Adults.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 152.1073, Human Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 152.1073.  HARRIS COUNTY BOARD OF RESOURCES [PROTECTIVE
  SERVICES] FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS.  (a)  In this section:
               (1)  "Board" means the Harris County Board of Resources
  [Protective Services] for Children and Adults.
               (2)  "Director" means the highest administrative
  officer who is responsible to the board.
               (3)  "Institution" means an institution for the care
  and protection of children 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 delinquent children or
  children in need of supervision or a facility primarily for
  children with severe psychological or other medical conditions.
         (b)  The board has the powers and duties of a child welfare
  board created under Section 264.005, Family Code.
         (c)  The board may, with the approval of the commissioners
  court, assume jurisdiction, management, and control over a county
  owned institution. If the board assumes control and management of
  an institution, the board shall perform the functions in relation
  to the institutions that the juvenile board and chief probation
  officer of Harris County formerly performed.
         (d)  The board may designate the director or a specially
  designated assistant as the director of one or more institutions.
         (e)  The board may hire and remove institution employees. The
  board shall establish a general personnel policy for institution
  employees and shall pay the salaries and expenses of the employees
  from funds supplied by the commissioners court under the annual
  budget or supplemental budget approved by the commissioners court
  or from funds supplied by the state or other sources.
         (f)  The board shall prepare an annual budget for the
  institutions and submit the budget to the commissioners court for
  final approval as prescribed by law for other county agencies and
  departments. The board shall also make an annual report to the
  commissioners court on the operations and efficiency of the
  institutions.
         (g)  In addition to the authority granted to the board by the
  commissioners court and the Texas Department of Human Services, the
  board may:
               (1)  disburse funds from sources other than the
  commissioners court and the Texas Department of Human Services to
  benefit children, eligible disabled adults, and eligible elderly
  adults under this section and to provide care, protection,
  evaluation, training, treatment, education, and recreation to
  those children;
               (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 and eligible disabled or elderly adults under this section
  and hold the gift or grant directly or in trust;
               (4)  use a gift or grant to benefit children or eligible
  disabled or elderly adults under this section and to provide care,
  protection, education, or training to those children and eligible
  disabled or elderly adults;
               (5)  accept and disburse as provided by Subdivision (1)
  fees and contributions from parents, guardians, and relatives of
  children and eligible disabled or elderly adults who are:
                     (A)  in county supported substitute care or
  custody, in the county Guardianship Program, or receiving services
  from the county Senior Justice Assessment Center, or in the county
  representative payee program; 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 eligible disabled or elderly adults in the
  board's or the county's legal custody;
               (7)  receive and disburse funds available to support or
  benefit a child or eligible elderly adult in the board's or the
  county's legal custody, including social security 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 or the county 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.
         (h)  The board shall designate the director or an assistant
  to apply for letters of guardianship 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 or eligible disabled or
  elderly 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.
         (i)  The board may also work with state agencies and
  commissioners court to provide services for eligible disabled
  adults, and eligible elderly residents of the county, who have been
  exploited, abused, or neglected, or who may be in need of a
  guardianship, or assistance from a representative payee.
         (j) [(i)]  The board may delegate to the director or an
  assistant any function or duty authorized or prescribed by this
  section. If the board delegates the duty to prepare the annual
  budget and report, the board must approve the budget and report
  before they are submitted to the commissioners court. The board may
  periodically review any delegation.
         SECTION 2.  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, 2021.