By: Paxton S.B. No. 2034
(In the Senate - Filed March 7, 2025; March 17, 2025, read
first time and referred to Committee on Health & Human Services;
April 7, 2025, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 9,
Nays 0; April 7, 2025, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the receivership of a single-source continuum
contractor providing child welfare services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 64.001(a), Civil Practice and Remedies
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) A court of competent jurisdiction may appoint a
receiver:
(1) in an action by a vendor to vacate a fraudulent
purchase of property;
(2) in an action by a creditor to subject any property
or fund to his claim;
(3) in an action between partners or others jointly
owning or interested in any property or fund;
(4) in an action by a mortgagee for the foreclosure of
the mortgage and sale of the mortgaged property;
(5) for a corporation that is insolvent, is in
imminent danger of insolvency, has been dissolved, or has forfeited
its corporate rights;
(6) for a single-source continuum contractor as
provided by Subchapter B-2, Chapter 264, Family Code; or
(7) [(6)] in any other case in which a receiver may be
appointed under the rules of equity.
SECTION 2. Chapter 264, Family Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter B-2 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER B-2. RECEIVER FOR SINGLE-SOURCE CONTINUUM CONTRACTOR
Sec. 264.191. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Catchment area" has the meaning assigned by
Section 264.152.
(2) "Community-based care contract" means a contract
between a single-source continuum contractor and the department or
the Health and Human Services Commission under Subchapter B-1.
(3) "Single-source continuum contractor" means an
entity that has entered into a contract with the department or the
Health and Human Services Commission under Subchapter B-1.
Sec. 264.1915. RECEIVER OF SINGLE-SOURCE CONTINUUM
CONTRACTOR. A court of competent jurisdiction may appoint a
receiver for a single-source continuum contractor or any of its
parts, divisions, components, or companies on the petition of the
department if:
(1) after being subject to a quality improvement plan,
corrective action plan, or other remedial statutory or contract
measures, the contractor continues to fail to satisfactorily
perform under the community-based care contract;
(2) the contractor:
(A) provides the department notice of the
contractor's intent to cease operations not later than the 60th day
before the date the contractor intends to cease operations; and
(B) has not made arrangements for another
single-source continuum contractor or the department to continue
the uninterrupted provision of services under the community-based
care contract;
(3) conditions exist, as determined by the department,
within the contractor that present an imminent danger to the
health, safety, or welfare of the children under the
conservatorship of the department in the contractor's care;
(4) the contractor has failed to provide adequate
information to the department regarding a child under the
conservatorship of the department in the contractor's care;
(5) the contractor has failed to comply with a court
order or incurred a sanction against the department due to failure
to comply with a court order; or
(6) the contractor cannot meet or is unlikely to be
able to meet financial obligations related to services provided
under the community-based care contract, including financial
obligations to employees, contractors, or foster parents.
Sec. 264.192. PROCEEDING TO APPOINT RECEIVER. (a) Except
as otherwise provided by law, a court shall give precedence to a
petition for the appointment of a receiver under this subchapter
over other matters.
(b) A court shall conduct an evidentiary hearing on a
petition for the appointment of a receiver under this subchapter
not later than the fifth day after the date the petition is filed.
The department shall make reasonable efforts to notify the
single-source continuum contractor of the hearing under this
subsection.
(c) A court shall grant a petition for the appointment of a
receiver under this subchapter on finding that:
(1) one of the conditions described by Section
264.1915 exists; and
(2) the continued existence of the condition
jeopardizes the health, safety, or welfare of a child under the
conservatorship of the department.
(d) A court may grant a petition for the appointment of a
receiver under this subchapter ex parte.
(e) The issuance of a check without sufficient money by the
single-source continuum contractor or the existence of delinquent
obligations for salaries, utilities, or essential services or
commodities for the contractor is prima facie evidence that the
contractor cannot meet or is unlikely to be able to meet financial
obligations related to services provided under the community-based
care contract as provided by Section 264.1915(6).
Sec. 264.1925. QUALIFICATIONS. (a) To be appointed as a
receiver under this subchapter, a person must be qualified by
education, training, or experience to carry out the duties of the
receiver under this subchapter. Notwithstanding Section 64.021,
Civil Practice and Remedies Code, a receiver appointed under this
subchapter may be an employee of the department.
(b) A court must appoint a receiver selected from a list of
qualified persons developed by the department and filed with the
court.
Sec. 264.193. LIMITED DURATION; ASSESSMENT. (a) A
receivership under this subchapter expires on the 90th day after
the date a receiver is appointed, unless the department files a
petition for a 60-day extension of the receivership with the
appointing court on or before the date the receivership expires.
The department may request multiple extensions under this
subsection.
(b) On or before the 60th day after the date a receiver is
appointed under this subchapter and every 60 days thereafter until
the expiration or termination of the receivership, the department
shall file with the appointing court an assessment of ability of the
single-source continuum contractor under receivership to ensure
the health, safety, and welfare of the children under the
conservatorship of the department in the contractor's care.
Sec. 264.1935. BOND. Notwithstanding Section 64.023, Civil
Practice and Remedies Code, a receiver appointed under this
subchapter who is an employee of the department is not required to
execute a bond.
Sec. 264.194. POWERS AND DUTIES OF RECEIVER. (a) A
receiver appointed under this subchapter shall take all actions:
(1) ordered by the appointing court; and
(2) necessary to ensure the continued health, safety,
and welfare of children under the conservatorship of the department
in the care of the single-source continuum contractor under
receivership, which may include:
(A) taking actions reasonably necessary to
protect or conserve the assets or property of the contractor;
(B) using of the property of the contractor for
the provision of care and services to children under the
conservatorship of the department and their families in the
applicable catchment area;
(C) entering into contracts with or hiring agents
or employees to carry out the powers and duties of the receiver;
(D) directing, managing, hiring, or discharging
employees or agents of the contractor; and
(E) honoring leases, mortgages, and contractual
obligations of the contractor as those payments become due during
the period of the receivership.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law and to ensure continuous
provision of necessary services to children under the
conservatorship of the department and their families, a contract
entered into by a receiver acting in accordance with the receiver's
duties under this section is not subject to advertising,
competitive bidding, or proposal evaluation requirements.
(c) A receiver shall compensate an employee hired in
accordance with this section at a rate of compensation, including
benefits, approved by the appointing court.
(d) A receiver may petition the appointing court for
temporary relief from obligations under a contract entered into by
the single-source continuum contractor under receivership if:
(1) the rent, price, or rate of interest substantially
exceeds a reasonable rent, price, or rate of interest at the time
the contractor entered into the contract; or
(2) any material provision of the contract is
unreasonable when compared to contracts negotiated under similar
conditions.
(e) Any relief granted by a court under Subsection (d) is
limited to the life of the receivership, unless otherwise
determined by the court.
(f) A receiver appointed under this subchapter shall
deposit all money related to the receivership in a separate account
and shall use that account for all disbursements related to the
receivership. A payment to a receiver of a sum owed to the
single-source continuum contractor under receivership shall be
considered a payment to the contractor with respect to the
discharge of the obligation.
(g) A receiver who is not a department employee shall
coordinate with the department to ensure:
(1) the continued health, safety, and welfare of the
children in the department's conservatorship; and
(2) compliance with all state and federal laws
relating to child welfare.
(h) A receiver shall make a reasonable effort to facilitate
the continued operation of the community-based care program under
Subchapter B-1 in the applicable catchment area.
Sec. 264.1945. COMPENSATION OF RECEIVER. The appointing
court shall order compensation for a receiver appointed under this
subchapter to be paid by the single-source continuum contractor
under receivership. If the receiver is a department employee, the
department shall pay the receiver the compensation ordered under
this section and the single-source continuum contractor shall
reimburse the department.
Sec. 264.195. LIABILITY OF RECEIVER. (a) A person does not
have a cause of action against a receiver appointed under this
subchapter for an action taken within the scope of the receivership
unless the cause of action arises from a breach of fiduciary duty or
the gross negligence or intentional acts of the receiver.
(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), this section does not
waive the sovereign immunity to suit and from liability of the
department or a department employee acting in an official capacity.
Sec. 264.1955. OBLIGATIONS AND LIABILITY OF SINGLE-SOURCE
CONTINUUM CONTRACTOR; SALE OR LEASE OF PROPERTY BY SINGLE-SOURCE
CONTINUUM CONTRACTOR. (a) The appointment of a receiver under this
subchapter does not relieve the single-source continuum contractor
under receivership or any employee or agent of the contractor of:
(1) civil or criminal liability arising out of an act
or omission that occurred before the appointment of the receiver;
(2) an obligation for the payment of taxes,
operational or maintenance expenses, mortgages, leases,
contractual obligations, or liens; or
(3) a duty imposed by law.
(b) A single-source continuum contractor under receivership
may sell or lease a facility under receivership, subject to the
approval of the appointing court.
Sec. 264.196. TERMINATION OF RECEIVERSHIP. (a) The
appointing court may terminate a receivership if:
(1) the court determines that the receivership is no
longer necessary because the conditions that gave rise to the
receivership no longer exist;
(2) the department has entered into a new contract
with a single-source continuum contractor and that contractor is
ready and able to assume the duties of the single-source continuum
contractor under receivership; or
(3) the department is ready and able to assume the
duties of the single-source continuum contractor under
receivership.
(b) Not later than the 60th day after the date a
receivership is terminated or expires under this subchapter, unless
such time is extended by order of the appointing court, the receiver
shall file with the clerk of the appointing court a full and final
and sworn account of:
(1) all property received by the receiver;
(2) all money collected and disbursed; and
(3) the expenses of the receivership.
SECTION 3. 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, 2025.
* * * * *