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Texas Statutes (Last Updated: January 4, 2014) |
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GOVERNMENT CODE |
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Title 4. EXECUTIVE BRANCH |
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Subtitle I. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES |
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Chapter 531. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION |
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Subchapter D-1. PERMANENCY PLANNING |
Sec. 531.156. DESIGNATION OF ADVOCATE
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), the Texas Department of Human Services shall designate a person, including a member of a community-based organization, to serve as a volunteer advocate for a child residing in an institution to assist in developing a permanency plan for the child if:
(1) the child's parent or guardian requests the assistance of an advocate; or
(2) the institution in which the child is placed cannot locate the child's parent or guardian.
(b) The Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation shall designate the person to serve as a volunteer advocate for a child in accordance with Subsection (a) if the child resides in an institution operated by the department.
(c) The person designated by the Texas Department of Human Services or the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation to serve as the child's volunteer advocate under this section may be:
(1) a person selected by the child's parent or guardian, except that the person may not be employed by or under a contract with the institution in which the child resides;
(2) an adult relative of the child; or
(3) a representative of a child advocacy group.
(d) The Texas Department of Human Services or the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, as appropriate, shall provide to each person designated to serve as a child's volunteer advocate information regarding permanency planning under this subchapter.