SECTION 377.209. Contracts with Local Children's Advocacy Centers

(a) On the execution of a memorandum of understanding under Texas Family Code §264.403, a local children's advocacy center may be established by community members and the participating agencies described by Texas Family Code §264.403(a) to serve a county or two or more contiguous counties in which a center has not been established, in accordance with Texas Family Code §264.402.

(b) The statewide children's advocacy center organization with which HHSC contracts under §377.207 of this subchapter (relating to Contract with Statewide Children's Advocacy Center Organization) shall contract with local children's advocacy centers to establish, maintain, and enhance the services provided by the centers.

(c) Eligibility of a Local Children's Advocacy Center to Contract with the Statewide Organization.

(1) To be eligible to contract with the statewide organization under Texas Family Code §264.410, a local children's advocacy center must:

(A) have a signed memorandum of understanding as provided by Texas Family Code §264.403;

(B) have a signed working protocol as provided by Texas Family Code §264.4031;

(C) have a governing board as provided by Texas Family Code §264.404;

(D) have a multidisciplinary team as provided by Texas Family Code §264.406;

(E) regularly convene the multidisciplinary team as provided by Texas Family Code §264.406;

(F) employ an executive director who is accountable to the board of directors of the local children's advocacy center and who is not the exclusive salaried employee of any governmental agency; and

(G) fulfill the duties required by Texas Family Code §264.405.

(2) The statewide children's advocacy center organization may waive requirements specified in subsection (c)(1) of this section if it determines that the waiver will not adversely affect a local children's advocacy center's ability to carry out its duties under Texas Family Code §264.405.

(d) Requirements for Contracts Awarded to Local Children's Advocacy Centers by the Statewide Children's Advocacy Center Organization.

(1) A contract between the statewide children's advocacy center organization and a local children's advocacy center under Texas Family Code §264.410 must not result in reducing the financial support the local children's advocacy center receives from another source.

(2) A contract between the statewide children's advocacy center organization and a local children's advocacy center under Texas Family Code §264.410 must be enforced through the use of remedies and in accordance with the procedures provided in the Uniform Grant Management Standards for Texas (UGMS).

(3) A contract between the statewide children's advocacy center organization and a local children's advocacy center under Texas Family Code §264.410 must require the local children's advocacy center to comply with the requirements and provisions applicable to local children's advocacy centers contained in the contract between the statewide children's advocacy center organization and HHSC under Texas Family Code §264.409.

Source Note: The provisions of this §377.209 adopted to be effective July 11, 2017, 42 TexReg 3477; amended to be effective July 22, 2020, 45 TexReg 4965