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Texas Statutes (Last Updated: January 4, 2014) |
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FAMILY CODE |
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Title 5. THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP AND THE SUIT AFFECTING THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP |
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Subtitle E. PROTECTION OF THE CHILD |
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Chapter 264. CHILD WELFARE SERVICES |
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Subchapter H. CHILD ABUSE PROGRAM EVALUATION |
Sec. 264.701. CHILD ABUSE PROGRAM EVALUATION COMMITTEE
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(a) The Child Abuse Program Evaluation Committee is established within the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services.
(b) The committee is appointed by the Board of Protective and Regulatory Services and is composed of the following 15 members:
(1) an officer or employee of the Texas Education Agency;
(2) two officers or employees of the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services;
(3) an officer or employee of the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission;
(4) an officer or employee of the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation;
(5) an officer or employee of the Health and Human Services Commission;
(6) three members of the public who have knowledge of and experience in the area of delivery of services relating to child abuse and neglect;
(7) three members of the public who have knowledge of and experience in the area of evaluation of programs relating to the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect; and
(8) three members of the public who are or have been recipients of services relating to the prevention or treatment of child abuse or neglect.
(c) In appointing members to the committee under Subsection (b)(8), the board shall consider appointing:
(1) an adult who as a child was a recipient of services relating to the prevention or treatment of child abuse or neglect; and
(2) a custodial and a noncustodial parent of a child who is or was a recipient of services relating to the prevention or treatment of child abuse or neglect.
(d) A committee member appointed to represent a state agency or entity serves at the pleasure of the board or until termination of the person's employment or membership with the agency or entity. The public members serve staggered six-year terms, with the terms of three public members expiring on September 1 of each even-numbered year.
(e) A member of the committee serves without compensation. A public member is entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses and per diem as provided by the General Appropriations Act.
(f) The committee shall elect from its members a presiding officer and any other officers considered necessary.
(g) Appointments to the committee shall be made without regard to the race, color, handicap, sex, religion, age, or national origin of an appointee.
(h) The committee shall:
(1) develop and adopt policies and procedures governing the system each state agency uses to evaluate the effectiveness of programs to prevent or treat child abuse or neglect with which the agency contracts;
(2) develop and adopt standard definitions of "child abuse treatment" and "child abuse prevention" to be used in implementing and administering the evaluation system created under this subchapter;
(3) develop and adopt standard models and guidelines for prevention and treatment of child abuse to be used in implementing and administering the evaluation system created under this subchapter;
(4) develop and adopt, in cooperation with each affected state agency, a schedule for each agency's adoption and implementation of the committee's evaluation system that considers each agency's budget cycle;
(5) develop and adopt a standard report form and a reporting schedule for the affected agencies; and
(6) develop and adopt objective criteria by which the performance of child abuse programs may be measured after reports under this subchapter are submitted and evaluated.
(i) In adopting an evaluation system under this subchapter, the committee shall allow the affected agencies as much latitude as possible in:
(1) the methods used to collect the required data; and
(2) the timetable for full implementation of the system, allowing for gradual implementation of the system according to classes of program providers.
(j) Each agency that contracts with a public or private entity for services relating to a program for the prevention or treatment of child abuse or neglect shall adopt and implement the committee's evaluation system and shall report to the committee as required by this subchapter.