Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1062 Compare Versions

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Old	New	Differences
1	1	81R35022 MCK-F
2	2	By: Shapiro, et al. S.B. No. 1062
3	3	Substitute the following for S.B. No. 1062:
4	4	By: Rose C.S.S.B. No. 1062
5	5
6	6
7	7	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	8	AN ACT
9	9	relating to creating an online resource center for individuals
10	10	handling child abuse and neglect cases.
11	11	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
12	12	SECTION 1. Chapter 264, Family Code, is amended by adding
13	13	Subchapter K to read as follows:
14	14	SUBCHAPTER K. ONLINE RESOURCE CENTER
15	15	Sec. 264.821. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
16	16	(1) "Communications tool" means an online method for
17	17	peer-to-peer communication among individuals who handle child
18	18	abuse and neglect cases.
19	19	(2) "Office" means the Office of Court Administration
20	20	of the Texas Judicial System.
21	21	(3) "Online resource center" means a single
22	22	interactive Internet website that provides, to individuals who
23	23	handle child abuse and neglect cases, timely informational
24	24	materials pertinent to child abuse and neglect cases in this state,
25	25	which may include summaries of Texas cases and statutes relating to
26	26	child abuse and neglect, sample briefs and other legal forms,
27	27	articles and papers, manuals with information on Texas legal
28	28	practice and practice tips, a conference calendar, and
29	29	communications tools.
30	30	Sec. 264.822. CONTRACT. (a) The office shall contract
31	31	with an entity to provide an online resource center if:
32	32	(1) the office is specifically appropriated money in
33	33	an amount adequate to provide the online resource center; and
34	34	(2) there is a qualified entity with whom the office is
35	35	able to contract.
36	36	(b) The online resource center must:
37	37	(1) provide a means of searching for informational
38	38	materials by subject; and
39	39	(2) include a:
40	40	(A) communications tool for judges; and
41	41	(B) communications tool for attorneys.
42	42	(c) The contract under this section must prohibit the entity
43	43	with which the office contracts from spending more than 12 percent
44	44	of the contract price on the entity's indirect or administrative
45	45	overhead expenses.
46	46	(d) If the office does not enter into a contract in
47	47	accordance with this subchapter, the office may not receive the
48	48	funds appropriated to the office in connection with this
49	49	subchapter.
50	50	Sec. 264.823. ELIGIBILITY FOR CONTRACT. The entity with
51	51	which the office contracts under this subchapter must:
52	52	(1) have experience in operating an online resource
53	53	center specifically designed for judges and attorneys handling
54	54	child abuse and neglect cases in this state;
55	55	(2) have experience in providing a communications
56	56	tool; and
57	57	(3) employ or contract with at least one attorney who
58	58	is licensed to practice law in this state and who specializes in
59	59	child abuse and neglect cases to compile the materials for and
60	60	oversee the operation of the online resource center.
61	61	Sec. 264.824. FUNDING. (a) The entity with which the
62	62	office contracts under this subchapter may obtain funding from
63	63	private foundations and individuals, from state and federal grants,
64	64	and from any other source to operate the online resource center.
65	65	(b) The entity must maintain and provide to the office
66	66	records that adequately identify:
67	67	(1) each person who provided funds to the entity to
68	68	operate the online resource center; and
69	69	(2) the amount of funds the person provided.
70	70	Sec. 264.825. CONFIDENTIALITY. All communications
71	71	conducted through a communications tool provided in connection with
72	72	the online resource center implemented under this subchapter are
73	73	privileged and confidential.
74	74	SECTION 2. This Act does not make an appropriation. A
75	75	provision in this Act that creates a new governmental program,
76	76	creates a new entitlement, or imposes a new duty on a governmental
77	77	entity is not mandatory during a fiscal period for which the
78	78	legislature has not made a specific appropriation to implement the
79	79	provision.
80	80	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.