1 | 1 | | 89R9872 AMF-F |
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2 | 2 | | By: Shaheen H.B. No. 5364 |
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3 | 3 | | |
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4 | 4 | | |
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5 | 5 | | |
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6 | 6 | | |
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7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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9 | 9 | | relating to the receivership of a single-source continuum |
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10 | 10 | | contractor providing child welfare services. |
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11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Section 64.001(a), Civil Practice and Remedies |
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13 | 13 | | Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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14 | 14 | | (a) A court of competent jurisdiction may appoint a |
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15 | 15 | | receiver: |
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16 | 16 | | (1) in an action by a vendor to vacate a fraudulent |
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17 | 17 | | purchase of property; |
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18 | 18 | | (2) in an action by a creditor to subject any property |
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19 | 19 | | or fund to his claim; |
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20 | 20 | | (3) in an action between partners or others jointly |
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21 | 21 | | owning or interested in any property or fund; |
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22 | 22 | | (4) in an action by a mortgagee for the foreclosure of |
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23 | 23 | | the mortgage and sale of the mortgaged property; |
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24 | 24 | | (5) for a corporation that is insolvent, is in |
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25 | 25 | | imminent danger of insolvency, has been dissolved, or has forfeited |
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26 | 26 | | its corporate rights; |
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27 | 27 | | (6) for a single-source continuum contractor as |
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28 | 28 | | provided by Subchapter B-2, Chapter 264, Family Code; or |
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29 | 29 | | (7) [(6)] in any other case in which a receiver may be |
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30 | 30 | | appointed under the rules of equity. |
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31 | 31 | | SECTION 2. Chapter 264, Family Code, is amended by adding |
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32 | 32 | | Subchapter B-2 to read as follows: |
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33 | 33 | | SUBCHAPTER B-2. RECEIVER FOR SINGLE-SOURCE CONTINUUM CONTRACTOR |
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34 | 34 | | Sec. 264.191. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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35 | 35 | | (1) "Catchment area" has the meaning assigned by |
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36 | 36 | | Section 264.152. |
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37 | 37 | | (2) "Community-based care contract" means a contract |
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38 | 38 | | between a single-source continuum contractor and the department or |
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39 | 39 | | the Health and Human Services Commission under Subchapter B-1. |
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40 | 40 | | (3) "Single-source continuum contractor" means an |
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41 | 41 | | entity that has entered into a contract with the department or the |
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42 | 42 | | Health and Human Services Commission under Subchapter B-1. |
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43 | 43 | | Sec. 264.1915. RECEIVER OF SINGLE-SOURCE CONTINUUM |
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44 | 44 | | CONTRACTOR. A court of competent jurisdiction may appoint a |
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45 | 45 | | receiver for a single-source continuum contractor or any of its |
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46 | 46 | | parts, divisions, components, or companies on the petition of the |
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47 | 47 | | department if: |
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48 | 48 | | (1) after being subject to a quality improvement plan, |
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49 | 49 | | corrective action plan, or other remedial statutory or contract |
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50 | 50 | | measures, the contractor continues to fail to satisfactorily |
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51 | 51 | | perform under the community-based care contract; |
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52 | 52 | | (2) the contractor: |
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53 | 53 | | (A) provides the department notice of the |
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54 | 54 | | contractor's intent to cease operations not later than the 60th day |
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55 | 55 | | before the date the contractor intends to cease operations; and |
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56 | 56 | | (B) has not made arrangements for another |
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57 | 57 | | single-source continuum contractor or the department to continue |
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58 | 58 | | the uninterrupted provision of services under the community-based |
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59 | 59 | | care contract; |
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60 | 60 | | (3) conditions exist, as determined by the department, |
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61 | 61 | | within the contractor that present an imminent danger to the |
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62 | 62 | | health, safety, or welfare of the children under the |
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63 | 63 | | conservatorship of the department in the contractor's care; |
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64 | 64 | | (4) the contractor has failed to provide adequate |
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65 | 65 | | information to the department regarding a child under the |
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66 | 66 | | conservatorship of the department in the contractor's care; |
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67 | 67 | | (5) the contractor has failed to comply with a court |
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68 | 68 | | order or incurred a sanction against the department due to failure |
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69 | 69 | | to comply with a court order; or |
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70 | 70 | | (6) the contractor cannot meet or is unlikely to be |
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71 | 71 | | able to meet financial obligations related to services provided |
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72 | 72 | | under the community-based care contract, including financial |
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73 | 73 | | obligations to employees, contractors, or foster parents. |
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74 | 74 | | Sec. 264.192. PROCEEDING TO APPOINT RECEIVER. (a) Except |
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75 | 75 | | as otherwise provided by law, a court shall give precedence to a |
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76 | 76 | | petition for the appointment of a receiver under this subchapter |
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77 | 77 | | over other matters. |
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78 | 78 | | (b) A court shall conduct an evidentiary hearing on a |
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79 | 79 | | petition for the appointment of a receiver under this subchapter |
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80 | 80 | | not later than the fifth day after the date the petition is filed. |
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81 | 81 | | The department shall make reasonable efforts to notify the |
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82 | 82 | | single-source continuum contractor of the hearing under this |
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83 | 83 | | subsection. |
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84 | 84 | | (c) A court shall grant a petition for the appointment of a |
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85 | 85 | | receiver under this subchapter on finding that: |
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86 | 86 | | (1) one of the conditions described by Section |
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87 | 87 | | 264.1915 exists; and |
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88 | 88 | | (2) the continued existence of the condition |
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89 | 89 | | jeopardizes the health, safety, or welfare of a child under the |
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90 | 90 | | conservatorship of the department. |
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91 | 91 | | (d) A court may grant a petition for the appointment of a |
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92 | 92 | | receiver under this subchapter ex parte. |
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93 | 93 | | (e) The issuance of a check without sufficient money by the |
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94 | 94 | | single-source continuum contractor or the existence of delinquent |
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95 | 95 | | obligations for salaries, utilities, or essential services or |
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96 | 96 | | commodities for the contractor is prima facie evidence that the |
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97 | 97 | | contractor cannot meet or is unlikely to be able to meet financial |
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98 | 98 | | obligations related to services provided under the community-based |
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99 | 99 | | care contract as provided by Section 264.1915(6). |
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100 | 100 | | Sec. 264.1925. QUALIFICATIONS. (a) To be appointed as a |
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101 | 101 | | receiver under this subchapter, a person must be qualified by |
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102 | 102 | | education, training, or experience to carry out the duties of the |
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103 | 103 | | receiver under this subchapter. Notwithstanding Section 64.021, |
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104 | 104 | | Civil Practice and Remedies Code, a receiver appointed under this |
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105 | 105 | | subchapter may be an employee of the department. |
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106 | 106 | | (b) A court must appoint a receiver selected from a list of |
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107 | 107 | | qualified persons developed by the department and filed with the |
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108 | 108 | | court. |
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109 | 109 | | Sec. 264.193. LIMITED DURATION; ASSESSMENT. (a) A |
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110 | 110 | | receivership under this subchapter expires on the 90th day after |
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111 | 111 | | the date a receiver is appointed, unless the department files a |
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112 | 112 | | petition for a 60-day extension of the receivership with the |
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113 | 113 | | appointing court on or before the date the receivership expires. |
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114 | 114 | | The department may request multiple extensions under this |
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115 | 115 | | subsection. |
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116 | 116 | | (b) On or before the 60th day after the date a receiver is |
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117 | 117 | | appointed under this subchapter and every 60 days thereafter until |
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118 | 118 | | the expiration or termination of the receivership, the department |
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119 | 119 | | shall file with the appointing court an assessment of ability of the |
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120 | 120 | | single-source continuum contractor under receivership to ensure |
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121 | 121 | | the health, safety, and welfare of the children under the |
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122 | 122 | | conservatorship of the department in the contractor's care. |
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123 | 123 | | Sec. 264.1935. BOND. Notwithstanding Section 64.023, Civil |
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124 | 124 | | Practice and Remedies Code, a receiver appointed under this |
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125 | 125 | | subchapter who is an employee of the department is not required to |
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126 | 126 | | execute a bond. |
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127 | 127 | | Sec. 264.194. POWERS AND DUTIES OF RECEIVER. (a) A |
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128 | 128 | | receiver appointed under this subchapter shall take all actions: |
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129 | 129 | | (1) ordered by the appointing court; and |
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130 | 130 | | (2) necessary to ensure the continued health, safety, |
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131 | 131 | | and welfare of children under the conservatorship of the department |
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132 | 132 | | in the care of the single-source continuum contractor under |
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133 | 133 | | receivership, which may include: |
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134 | 134 | | (A) taking actions reasonably necessary to |
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135 | 135 | | protect or conserve the assets or property of the contractor; |
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136 | 136 | | (B) using of the property of the contractor for |
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137 | 137 | | the provision of care and services to children under the |
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138 | 138 | | conservatorship of the department and their families in the |
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139 | 139 | | applicable catchment area; |
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140 | 140 | | (C) entering into contracts with or hiring agents |
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141 | 141 | | or employees to carry out the powers and duties of the receiver; |
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142 | 142 | | (D) directing, managing, hiring, or discharging |
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143 | 143 | | employees or agents of the contractor; and |
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144 | 144 | | (E) honoring leases, mortgages, and contractual |
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145 | 145 | | obligations of the contractor as those payments become due during |
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146 | 146 | | the period of the receivership. |
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147 | 147 | | (b) Notwithstanding any other law and to ensure continuous |
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148 | 148 | | provision of necessary services to children under the |
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149 | 149 | | conservatorship of the department and their families, a contract |
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150 | 150 | | entered into by a receiver acting in accordance with the receiver's |
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151 | 151 | | duties under this section is not subject to advertising, |
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152 | 152 | | competitive bidding, or proposal evaluation requirements. |
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153 | 153 | | (c) A receiver shall compensate an employee hired in |
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154 | 154 | | accordance with this section at a rate of compensation, including |
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155 | 155 | | benefits, approved by the appointing court. |
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156 | 156 | | (d) A receiver may petition the appointing court for |
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157 | 157 | | temporary relief from obligations under a contract entered into by |
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158 | 158 | | the single-source continuum contractor under receivership if: |
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159 | 159 | | (1) the rent, price, or rate of interest substantially |
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160 | 160 | | exceeds a reasonable rent, price, or rate of interest at the time |
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161 | 161 | | the contractor entered into the contract; or |
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162 | 162 | | (2) any material provision of the contract is |
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163 | 163 | | unreasonable when compared to contracts negotiated under similar |
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164 | 164 | | conditions. |
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165 | 165 | | (e) Any relief granted by a court under Subsection (d) is |
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166 | 166 | | limited to the life of the receivership, unless otherwise |
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167 | 167 | | determined by the court. |
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168 | 168 | | (f) A receiver appointed under this subchapter shall |
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169 | 169 | | deposit all money related to the receivership in a separate account |
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170 | 170 | | and shall use that account for all disbursements related to the |
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171 | 171 | | receivership. A payment to a receiver of a sum owed to the |
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172 | 172 | | single-source continuum contractor under receivership shall be |
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173 | 173 | | considered a payment to the contractor with respect to the |
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174 | 174 | | discharge of the obligation. |
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175 | 175 | | (g) A receiver who is not a department employee shall |
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176 | 176 | | coordinate with the department to ensure: |
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177 | 177 | | (1) the continued health, safety, and welfare of the |
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178 | 178 | | children in the department's conservatorship; and |
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179 | 179 | | (2) compliance with all state and federal laws |
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180 | 180 | | relating to child welfare. |
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181 | 181 | | (h) A receiver shall make a reasonable effort to facilitate |
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182 | 182 | | the continued operation of the community-based care program under |
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183 | 183 | | Subchapter B-1 in the applicable catchment area. |
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184 | 184 | | Sec. 264.1945. COMPENSATION OF RECEIVER. The appointing |
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185 | 185 | | court shall order compensation for a receiver appointed under this |
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186 | 186 | | subchapter to be paid by the single-source continuum contractor |
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187 | 187 | | under receivership. If the receiver is a department employee, the |
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188 | 188 | | department shall pay the receiver the compensation ordered under |
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189 | 189 | | this section and the single-source continuum contractor shall |
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190 | 190 | | reimburse the department. |
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191 | 191 | | Sec. 264.195. LIABILITY OF RECEIVER. (a) A person does not |
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192 | 192 | | have a cause of action against a receiver appointed under this |
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193 | 193 | | subchapter for an action taken within the scope of the receivership |
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194 | 194 | | unless the cause of action arises from a breach of fiduciary duty or |
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195 | 195 | | the gross negligence or intentional acts of the receiver. |
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196 | 196 | | (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), this section does not |
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197 | 197 | | waive the sovereign immunity to suit and from liability of the |
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198 | 198 | | department or a department employee acting in an official capacity. |
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199 | 199 | | Sec. 264.1955. OBLIGATIONS AND LIABILITY OF SINGLE-SOURCE |
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200 | 200 | | CONTINUUM CONTRACTOR; SALE OR LEASE OF PROPERTY BY SINGLE-SOURCE |
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201 | 201 | | CONTINUUM CONTRACTOR. (a) The appointment of a receiver under this |
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202 | 202 | | subchapter does not relieve the single-source continuum contractor |
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203 | 203 | | under receivership or any employee or agent of the contractor of: |
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204 | 204 | | (1) civil or criminal liability arising out of an act |
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205 | 205 | | or omission that occurred before the appointment of the receiver; |
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206 | 206 | | (2) an obligation for the payment of taxes, |
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207 | 207 | | operational or maintenance expenses, mortgages, leases, |
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208 | 208 | | contractual obligations, or liens; or |
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209 | 209 | | (3) a duty imposed by law. |
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210 | 210 | | (b) A single-source continuum contractor under receivership |
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211 | 211 | | may sell or lease a facility under receivership, subject to the |
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212 | 212 | | approval of the appointing court. |
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213 | 213 | | Sec. 264.196. TERMINATION OF RECEIVERSHIP. (a) The |
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214 | 214 | | appointing court may terminate a receivership if: |
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215 | 215 | | (1) the court determines that the receivership is no |
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216 | 216 | | longer necessary because the conditions that gave rise to the |
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217 | 217 | | receivership no longer exist; |
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218 | 218 | | (2) the department has entered into a new contract |
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219 | 219 | | with a single-source continuum contractor and that contractor is |
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220 | 220 | | ready and able to assume the duties of the single-source continuum |
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221 | 221 | | contractor under receivership; or |
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222 | 222 | | (3) the department is ready and able to assume the |
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223 | 223 | | duties of the single-source continuum contractor under |
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224 | 224 | | receivership. |
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225 | 225 | | (b) Not later than the 60th day after the date a |
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226 | 226 | | receivership is terminated or expires under this subchapter, unless |
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227 | 227 | | such time is extended by order of the appointing court, the receiver |
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228 | 228 | | shall file with the clerk of the appointing court a full and final |
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229 | 229 | | and sworn account of: |
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230 | 230 | | (1) all property received by the receiver; |
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231 | 231 | | (2) all money collected and disbursed; and |
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232 | 232 | | (3) the expenses of the receivership. |
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233 | 233 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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234 | 234 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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235 | 235 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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236 | 236 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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237 | 237 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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