Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB474 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	H.B. No. 474
2	2
3	3
4	4	AN ACT
5	5	relating to certain requirements regarding court-appointed
6	6	volunteer advocate programs.
7	7	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
8	8	SECTION 1. Section 264.601, Family Code, is amended by
9	9	adding Subdivisions (1-a) and (1-b) to read as follows:
10	10	(1-a) "Active volunteer advocate" means an individual
11	11	who:
12	12	(A) has been trained by a volunteer advocate
13	13	program in accordance with recognized standards for volunteer
14	14	advocate programs; and
15	15	(B) is currently serving as a volunteer advocate
16	16	on at least one child's case.
17	17	(1-b) "Inactive volunteer advocate" means an
18	18	individual who:
19	19	(A) has been trained by a volunteer advocate
20	20	program in accordance with recognized standards for volunteer
21	21	advocate programs; and
22	22	(B) is not currently serving as a volunteer
23	23	advocate.
24	24	SECTION 2. Section 264.603(a), Family Code, is amended to
25	25	read as follows:
26	26	(a) The commission shall contract with one statewide
27	27	organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under
28	28	Section 501(a), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as an organization
29	29	described by Section 501(c)(3) of that code and that is composed of
30	30	individuals or groups of individuals who have expertise in the
31	31	dynamics of child abuse and neglect and experience in operating
32	32	volunteer advocate programs to provide training, technical
33	33	assistance, and evaluation services for the benefit of local
34	34	volunteer advocate programs. The contract shall:
35	35	(1) include measurable goals and objectives relating
36	36	to the number of:
37	37	(A) active volunteer advocates in the program;
38	38	[and]
39	39	(B) inactive volunteer advocates in the program;
40	40	and
41	41	(C) children receiving services from the
42	42	program; and
43	43	(2) follow practices designed to ensure compliance
44	44	with standards referenced in the contract.
45	45	SECTION 3. Section 264.604(a), Family Code, is amended to
46	46	read as follows:
47	47	(a) A person is eligible for a contract under Section
48	48	264.602 only if the person is a public or private nonprofit entity
49	49	that operates a volunteer advocate program that:
50	50	(1) uses individuals appointed as volunteer advocates
51	51	or guardians ad litem by the court to provide for the needs of
52	52	abused or neglected children;
53	53	(2) has provided court-appointed advocacy services
54	54	for at least six months;
55	55	(3) provides court-appointed advocacy services for at
56	56	least 10 children each month; [and]
57	57	(4) has demonstrated that the program has local
58	58	judicial support;
59	59	(5) has adopted a grievance procedure to address
60	60	complaints regarding negligence or misconduct related to a
61	61	volunteer advocate's duties under Section 107.002; and
62	62	(6) maintains accurate records regarding active
63	63	volunteer advocates and inactive volunteer advocates under the
64	64	program.
65	65	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
66	66	______________________________ ______________________________
67	67	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
68	68	I certify that H.B. No. 474 was passed by the House on April
69	69	20, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 4, 2 present, not
70	70	voting.
71	71	______________________________
72	72	Chief Clerk of the House
73	73	I certify that H.B. No. 474 was passed by the Senate on May
74	74	10, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
75	75	______________________________
76	76	Secretary of the Senate
77	77	APPROVED: _____________________
78	78	Date
79	79	_____________________
80	80	Governor