TITLE 37.PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS

Part 3. TEXAS YOUTH COMMISSION

Chapter 91. PROGRAM SERVICES

Subchapter A. BASIC SERVICES

37 TAC §91.1

(Editor's note: The text of the following section proposed for repeal will not be published. The section may be examined in the offices of the Texas Youth Commission or in the Texas Register office, Room 245, James Earl Rudder Building, 1019 Brazos Street, Austin.)

The Texas Youth Commission proposes the repeal of §91.1, concerning Daily Living. The repeal is being proposed as a result of the commission's annual rule review, which determined that the reason for adopting this rule is more thoroughly addressed in other existing rules, specifically §87.2 and §87.3.

Robin McKeever, Assistant Deputy Executive Director for Financial Support, has determined that for the first five-year period the repeal is in effect there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the repeal.

DeAnna Lloyd, Chief of Policy Administration, has determined that for each year of the first five years the section is in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the section will be the elimination of a duplicative agency rule. There will be no effect on small businesses. There is no anticipated economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the repeal as proposed. No private real property rights are affected by adoption of this rule.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted within 30 days of the publication of this notice to DeAnna Lloyd, Chief of Policy Administration, Texas Youth Commission, 4900 North Lamar, P.O. Box 4260, Austin, Texas 78765, or email to deanna.lloyd@tyc.state.tx.us.

The repeal is proposed under the Human Resources Code, §61.034, which provides the commission with the authority to make rules appropriate to the proper accomplishment of its functions, and Government Code §2001.039, which requires each state agency to review its rules to determine whether the reason for initial adoption continues to exist, and readopt, readopt with amendments, or repeal a rule as the result of reviewing the rule.

The proposed repeal affects the Human Resources Code, §61.034.

§91.1.Daily Living.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on December 29, 2006.

TRD-200606912

Dwight Harris

Executive Director

Texas Youth Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: February 11, 2007

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6014


Chapter 93. YOUTH RIGHTS AND REMEDIES

37 TAC §93.15, §93.33

The Texas Youth Commission proposes amendments to §93.15, concerning youth mail, and §93.33, concerning alleged abuse, neglect and exploitation. The amendments to the rules will update staff titles and other terminology to reflect the TYC Board decision on July 27, 2006, to change the name of the Office of Inspector General to the Office of Youth Care Investigations.

Robin McKeever, Assistant Deputy Executive Director for Financial Support, has determined that for the first five-year period the amendments are in effect there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the amendments.

DeAnna Lloyd, Chief of Policy Administration, has determined that for each year of the first five-years the amended sections are in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the sections will be the availability of agency rules reflecting accurate and up-to-date terminology. There will be no effect on small businesses. There is no anticipated economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the amendments as proposed. No private real property rights are affected by adoption of these rules.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted within 30 days of the publication of this notice to DeAnna Lloyd, Chief of Policy Administration, Texas Youth Commission, 4900 North Lamar, P.O. Box 4260, Austin, Texas 78765, or email to deanna.lloyd@tyc.state.tx.us.

The amendments are proposed under the Human Resources Code, §61.034, which provides the commission with the authority to make rules appropriate to the proper accomplishment of its functions.

The proposed rules affect the Human Resources Code, §61.034.

§93.15.Youth Mail.

(a) - (b) (No change.)

(c) Explanation of Terms Used.

(1) Contraband--means any physical item that presents a substantial danger to the safety and security of youth, staff, or the facility and any other item, depiction, or publication that is included in the definition of "contraband" under [ (GAP) ] §95.3 of this title [ (relating to Rules of Conduct) ].

(2) (No change.)

(3) Special Correspondent--means the following persons:

(A) Texas Youth Commission (TYC) board members, administrators, or TYC inspectors [ general, or investigators ];

(B) - (D) (No change.)

(d) - (e) (No change.)

(f) Contraband in Incoming and Outgoing Mail.

(1) - (3) (No change.)

(4) All contraband that is discovered will be seized and disposed of in accordance with [ (GAP) ] §97.11 of this title [ (related to Control of Unauthorized Items Seized) ]. Money in the mail is handled in accordance with [ (GAP) ] §99.31 of this title [ (relating to Youth Banking) ].

(g) - (j) (No change.)

§93.33.Alleged Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation.

(a) (No change.)

(b) Applicability.

(1) (No change.)

(2) For procedures regarding the resolution of youth complaints, refer to §93.31 of this title [ (relating to Complaint Resolution System) ].

(3) For procedures regarding appeals to the executive director, refer to §93.53 of this title [ (relating to Appeal to Executive Director) ].

(4) For procedures regarding reporting the death of a youth, refer to §99.51 of this title [ (relating to Death of a Youth) ].

(c) Explanation of Terms Used.

(1) - (4) (No change.)

(5) Deputy Director, Office of Youth Care Investigations [ Chief Inspector General ]--the person employed in TYC's Office of Youth Care Investigations [ General Counsel ] who is responsible for overseeing investigations of allegations of abuse, neglect or exploitation and compiling investigation information.

(6) Youth Care Investigator [ Inspector General ]--the person employed in TYC's Office of Youth Care Investigations [ General Counsel ] and located in a TYC facility or district office who is responsible for conducting investigations.

(d) - (f) (No change.)

(g) Referral of the Report to the Youth Care Investigations Deputy Director [ report to the Deputy Chief Inspector General ]. By the end of the workday in which a report is received, the facility's CLA will refer the report to the youth care investigations deputy director [ chief inspector general ] who will take the following actions before the end of the next working day:

(1) record all reports for tracking; and

(2) assign an investigator.

(h) (No change.)

(i) Investigation Report--Submission and Closure.

(1) Within 15 workdays following the assignment, the investigator will submit the completed investigation report to the youth care investigations deputy director [ chief inspector general ]. The youth care investigations deputy director [ chief inspector general ] may approve an extension in the time for submission for good cause.

(2) Within five (5) workdays following receipt of the report, the youth care investigations deputy director [ chief inspector general ] will review the report and consult with the investigator regarding any necessary additions or clarifications. The youth care investigations deputy director [ chief inspector general ] may extend the time for this review if it is required for a thorough and complete report.

(3) The youth care investigations deputy director [ chief inspector general ] will indicate whether the report of mistreatment is confirmed or not as follows:

(A) if all the requisite findings for abuse, neglect, or exploitation are affirmed by the evidence, the youth care investigations deputy director [ chief inspector general ] will indicate that the report is confirmed as alleged;

(B) if all the requisite findings for abuse, neglect, or exploitation are not affirmed, the youth care investigations deputy director [ chief inspector general ] will indicate that the report is not confirmed as alleged. However, if the findings constitute a violation of agency policy or standards of care, even though they do not constitute abuse, neglect, or exploitation, the youth care investigations deputy director [ chief inspector general ] may confirm the report as a violation of agency policy or standards of care.

(4) The youth care investigations deputy director [ chief inspector general ] will indicate approval of the investigation findings by officially closing the report as confirmed or not confirmed, and referring it to the CLA of the program or facility that generated the allegation.

(5) If the allegation was reported by a medical health provider (MHP) who is employed by or contracts with University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) or the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC), the MHP will be notified in writing by the youth care investigations deputy director [ chief inspector general ] or designee of the results of the investigation and the MHP's right to appeal the findings of the investigation report pursuant to §93.53 of this title.

(j) - (l) (No change.)

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on December 29, 2006.

TRD-200606914

Dwight Harris

Executive Director

Texas Youth Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: February 11, 2007

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6014


Chapter 99. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Subchapter C. MISCELLANEOUS

37 TAC §99.51

The Texas Youth Commission proposes an amendment to §99.51. The amendment to the section will update a staff title to reflect the TYC Board decision on July 27, 2006, to change the name of the Office of Inspector General to the Office of Youth Care Investigations.

Robin McKeever, Assistant Deputy Executive Director for Financial Support, has determined that for the first five-year period the amendment is in effect there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the amendment.

DeAnna Lloyd, Chief of Policy Administration, has determined that for each year of the first five years the section is in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the section will be the availability of agency rules reflecting accurate and up-to-date terminology. There will be no effect on small businesses. There is no anticipated economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the amendment. No private real property rights are affected by adoption of this rule.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted within 30 days of the publication of this notice to DeAnna Lloyd, Chief of Policy Administration, Texas Youth Commission, 4900 North Lamar, P.O. Box 4260, Austin, Texas 78765, or email to deanna.lloyd@tyc.state.tx.us.

The amendment is proposed under the Human Resources Code, §61.034, which provides the commission with the authority to make rules appropriate to the proper accomplishment of its functions.

The proposed rule affects the Human Resources Code, §61.034.

§99.51.Death of a Youth.

(a) - (b) (No change.)

(c) On the death of a youth residing in a TYC residential facility, the following actions will be taken.

(1) The following should be notified immediately:

(A) - (D) (No change.)

(E) the director of youth care investigations [ chief inspector general ].

(2) The agency will cooperate fully with any external investigation and conduct [ conducts ] an internal investigation into the circumstances of the death. The investigation will be conducted in accordance with [ (GAP) ] §93.33 of this title [ (relating to Alleged Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation) ], and the report finalized within 25 days of the date of the death of the youth.

(3) The executive director must provide the Attorney General's Office the Custodial Death Report [ (located www.oag.state.tx.us) ]. The report must be filed:

(A) regardless of the entity that conducts the investigation;

(B) within 30 days from the date of the death of a youth in any TYC operated or contract residential program; and

(C) with relevant facts surrounding the death.

(4) - (5) (No change.)

(d) (No change.)

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on December 29, 2006.

TRD-200606915

Dwight Harris

Executive Director

Texas Youth Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: February 11, 2007

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6014