TITLE 37.PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS

Part 3. TEXAS YOUTH COMMISSION

Chapter 81. INTERACTION WITH THE PUBLIC

37 TAC §81.34

The Texas Youth Commission (TYC) proposes an amendment to §81.34, concerning Notice of Youth Confessions. The amendment to the section clarifies reporting requirements. A report of a confession of child abuse does not need to be made if it is determined from existing documentation that the youth's statement has already been referred to DPRS or a law enforcement agency and the report includes no new information; if the statement only relates to conduct that resulted in the youth's commitment to TYC; or if it only relates to conduct that resulted in a previous juvenile court adjudication or other disposition.

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

Mr. McCullough also 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 further clarification of when reports of a youth confession of child abuse. There will be no effect on small businesses. There is no anticipated economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the section as proposed. No private real property rights are affected by adoption of this rule.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Sherma Cragg, Chief of Policy and Manuals, Texas Youth Commission, 4900 North Lamar, P.O. Box 4260, Austin, Texas 78765.

The amendment is proposed under the Human Resources Code, §61.034, which provides the Texas Youth Commission with the authority to adopt policies and make rules appropriate to the proper accomplishment of its functions.

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

§81.34. Notice of Youth Confessions of Child Abuse.

(a) - (b)

(No change)

(c)

Reporting.

(1)

A TYC staff member or volunteer who has cause to believe, based on information provided by a youth in a TYC operated facility or contract care program, that the youth is responsible for abusing or neglecting a child or children some time in the past when the youth was not in a TYC operated facility or contract care program, must report that information, not later than the 48th hour after the hour the staff member first receives it, to DPRS, to a state or local law enforcement agency, or to the person's appropriate TYC supervisor.

(2)

A report does not need to be made If it is determined from existing documentation that the youth's statement:

(A)

has already been referred to DPRS or a law enforcement agency by an agency supervisor and the new report includes no new information;

(B)

relates only to conduct that resulted in the youth's commitment to TYC; or

(C)

relates only to conduct that resulted in a previous juvenile court adjudication, deferred prosecution or disposition without referral to court.

(d) - (e)

(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 April 27, 2001.

TRD-200102431

Steve Robinson

Executive Director

Texas Youth Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 10, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6301


Chapter 87. TREATMENT

Subchapter B. SPECIAL NEEDS OFFENDER PROGRAMS

37 TAC §87.67

The Texas Youth Commission (TYC) proposes an amendment to §,87.67 concerning Corsicana Stabilization Unit (CSU). The amendment to the section changes a definition for admission criteria to read "youth's behavior" versus "dysfunction". Added to admission criteria is that a youth may be admitted to the CSU if the youth is currently placed in a specialized emotionally disturbed program and requires frequent segregation from other youth to control disruptive or maladaptive behavior as evidenced by ten or more security admissions in a three month period or five security admission in a 30 day period. Added to the 96 hour review process is the provision if admission appropriateness cannot be determined during the 96 hour mental status review hearing, the youth may be temporarily admitted for diagnostic and assessment purposes as long as the panel concludes the youth does exhibit evidence of psychiatric dysfunction; the youth has exhibited recent behavior that presents a danger to self or others, or chronic failure to progress in prior placement; the youth is in need of a comprehensive psychiatric and psychological evaluation in a specialized setting; and the CSU is the least restrictive setting in which the evaluation may be accomplished. Also added to this process is that youth temporarily admitted for diagnostic and assessment purposes will have a comprehensive mental health assessment completed and will be released from the unit within 45 days of arrival, unless the youth is admitted for treatment up to 90 additional days through a new mental health status review hearing. Changes to the extension criteria include the youth must continue to exhibit symptoms of mental illness and would benefit from treatment in the CSU and continued treatment in that setting is deemed to be in the youth's best interest. All language regarding voluntary extensions has been deleted from all sections. Minor grammatical changes were made throughout the rule.

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

Mr. McCullough also 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 a more efficient method of operating a highly structured program designed for youth with severe emotional disturbances. There will be no effect on small businesses. There is no anticipated economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the section as proposed. No private real property rights are affected by adoption of this rule.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Sherma Cragg, Chief of Policy and Manuals, Texas Youth Commission, 4900 North Lamar, P.O. Box 4260, Austin, Texas 78765.

The amendment is proposed under the Human Resources Code, §61.076, which provides the Texas Youth Commission with the authority to provide psychiatric treatment as necessary.

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

§87.67.Corsicana Stabilization Unit.

(a)

Purpose. The purpose of this rule is to establish, for psychiatrically disturbed Texas Youth Commission (TYC) [ TYC ] youth, criteria and procedure for admission and evaluation for specialized treatment services in the Corsicana Stabilization Unit (CSU).

(b)

Applicability.

(1)

The mental health status review due process procedures are found in (GAP) §95.71 of this title (relating to Mental Health Status Review Hearing Procedure).

(2)

See (GAP) §95.55 of this title, (relating to Level II Hearing Procedure).

(3)

See (GAP) §95.51 of this title (relating to Level I Hearing Procedure).

(4)

For emergency mental health placements, see (GAP) §87.71 of this title (relating to Emergency Mental Health Admission).

(c)

Admissions.

(1)

Admission Criteria. Youth who may be admitted to the CSU [ Corsicana Stabilization Unit ] at the Corsicana Residential Treatment Center are those who meet the following criteria:

(A)

youth demonstrates serious dysfunction in behavior, judgment, thinking, or mood; and

(B)

the dysfunction is the result of a current neurological deficit and/or emotional disturbance and/or psychiatric disorder, e.g. psychosis, major affective disorder, organic disorder, or anxiety disorder; and the dysfunction is not the result of a primary conduct disorder or antisocial personality disorder; and

(C)

the youth's behavior [ dysfunction ] presents a risk of serious harm to the youth or others; and

(D)

the youth is placed in a specialized emotionally disturbed (ED) program and requires frequent segregation from other youth to control disruptive or maladaptive behavior as evidenced by ten or more security admissions in a three month period or five or more security unit admissions in a 30 day period; and

(E)

[ (D) ] the stabilization unit is the least-restrictive intervention alternative that is appropriate and available to safely meet the treatment needs and to control the dysfunction.

(2)

Admission Process.

(A)

Referrals. Complete current psychiatric and psychological evaluations by a licensed psychiatrist and a psychologist must be included in order to be considered. Referral information should be sent directly to the stabilization unit admissions panel.

(B)

Emergency Referrals. If an emergency exists, procedures in (GAP) §87.71 of this title (relating to Emergency Mental Health Admission) must be followed. Consistent with emergency criteria, staff may request of the superintendent immediate placement of the youth in the CSU [ Corsicana Stabilization Unit ]. On admission, requirements in this policy are effective for all emergency admissions.

(3)

96 Hour Admission Review Process. A mental health status review hearing shall be held for all youth within 96 hours of arrival at the unit. If the 96 hour period ends on a Saturday, Sunday or Legal Holiday, the hearing must be held on the next regular working day. The hearing is held to determine whether criteria for unit admission have been met.

(A)

If the youth is deemed not to be appropriate for admission, he/she is not retained in the program. Youth who are not admitted are returned to the referring program/location.

(B)

If the youth is deemed appropriate for admission, he/she is retained and treated in the program.

(C)

If the youth's treatment needs and appropriateness for admission cannot be determined during the 96 hour mental status review hearing, the youth may be temporarily admitted for diagnostic and assessment purposes provided the hearing panel concludes:

(i)

the youth does exhibit evidence of psychiatric dysfunction; and

(ii)

the youth has exhibited recent behavior that presents a danger to self or others or chronic failure to progress in his/her prior placement; and

(iii)

the youth is in need of comprehensive psychiatric and psychological evaluation in a specialized setting; and

(iv)

the CSU is the least restrictive setting in which to effectively accomplish this evaluation.

(D)

Youth temporarily admitted for diagnostic and assessment purposes will have a comprehensive mental health assessment completed and will be released from the unit within 45 days of arrival, unless the youth is admitted for treatment up to 90 additional days through a new mental health status review hearing.

(d)

Program Requirements.

(1)

The program focus will be on stabilization of the psychiatric dysfunction.

(2)

Services are provided in a self-contained unit at the TYC Corsicana Residential Treatment Center.

(3)

An individualized treatment program reflecting treatment goals and objectives shall be developed for and with each youth.

(4)

The treatment team shall review the youth's progress weekly.

(5)

By the end of 90 days from the date of the admission due process hearing, a youth shall be returned to the referring source or referred to CPU for appropriate placement unless an extension becomes effective at that time.

(e)

Extension of Time Beyond 90 Days to Treat the Psychiatric Dysfunction.

(1)

Extension Criteria. Extension may occur if criteria are met.

(A)

Youth continues to meet admission criteria; and

(B)

the youth's treatment plan has been implemented appropriately; or [ The youth's treatment plan has been implemented appropriately. ]

(C)

if the youth has symptoms of mental illness and will benefit from treatment in the CSU and continued treatment in this setting is deemed to be in the youth's best interest.

(2)

Extension Due Process Requirements.

(A)

the due process required to determine whether extension criteria have been met is:

(i)

a level I hearing for all youth on parole. Parole is not revoked.

(ii)

a mental health status review hearing for all non-parole youth.

(B)

The due process hearing shall be conducted:

(i)

two weeks immediately preceding the youth's 90th day from the admission hearing or two weeks preceding the anniversary date of the latest extension hearing unless the youth is being considered for transition out of the unit before the end of the initial 90 day stay or latest extension hearing;

(ii)

as soon as the youth returns to the unit if he/she [ s/he ] is in a state hospital at the time the hearing is required.

(3)

The Effect of an Extension.

(A)

Extension shall be in effect only if extension criteria are found in a due process hearing.

(B)

An extension granted means that the period of time, beyond the initial 90 day stay, during which a youth may be treated for a psychiatric dysfunction under rules of this policy, shall be extended for up to 12 months from the date of the extension due process hearing. Successive extension hearings may be held.

(4)

Release and Transition Options.

(A)

The treatment team shall determine by majority vote that the youth is ready to leave the stabilization unit. The criteria for deciding releases must be consistent with the criteria for deciding admission or extension.

(B)

Release options are consistent with the youth's residential placement at referral. Youth on institutional status will be transitioned through a Residential Treatment Program unless recommended otherwise by the treatment team.

(C)

The extension of time to treat the psychiatric dysfunction shall be terminated when placement is no longer needed for the primary purpose of treatment of the dysfunction.

(D)

Following termination of the extension, future placement decisions, including the youth's return to his/her [ his ] home parole placement, are made in accordance with other applicable policies and procedures.

(E)

No youth may be discharged from TYC jurisdiction directly from a CSU [ Corsicana Stabilization Unit ] unless TYC's jurisdiction ends by statute.

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 April 26, 2001.

TRD-200102420

Steve Robinson

Executive Director

Texas Youth Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 10, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6301


37 TAC §87.79

The Texas Youth Commission (TYC) proposes an amendment to §87.79, concerning Discharge of Mentally Ill and Mentally Retarded Youth. The amendment to the section changes one phrase in the discharge eligibility criteria. Removed from the criteria is the statement regarding the mental illness not stabilizing. It will now read that a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist must determine that the mental illness is the reason for the youth's inability to engage in productive interaction as required by the agency's resocialization program.

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

Mr. McCullough also 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 a better defined method of determining when a youth would be eligible for discharge due to mental illness. There will be no effect on small businesses. There is no anticipated economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the section as proposed. No private real property rights are affected by adoption of this rule.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Sherma Cragg, Chief of Policy and Manuals, Texas Youth Commission, 4900 North Lamar, P.O. Box 4260, Austin, Texas 78765.

The amendment is proposed under the Human Resources Code, §61.077 and §61.0772 , which provides the Texas Youth Commission with the authority to examine and appropriately discharge youth with mental illnesses or mental retardation.

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

§87.79.Discharge of Mentally Ill and Mentally Retarded Youth.

(a) - (d)

(No change.)

(e)

Discharge Eligibility Criteria.

(1)

Youth with a mental illness who are unable to progress in rehabilitation programs and therefore shall be discharged are those who meet the following criteria:

(A)

the youth has completed the initial minimum length of stay;

(B)

the youth has been diagnosed with a primary brain disorder (e.g., psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, major depression, organic disorder, or severe neurological deficit);

(C)

a licensed psychologist and/or psychiatrist has determined [ that the mental illness has not stabilized and ] that the mental illness is the reason for the youth's inability to engage in productive interaction as required by the agency's resocialization program; and

(D)

a licensed psychologist and psychiatrist has determined that as a result of mental illness, the youth:

(i)

is likely to cause serious harm to himself; or

(ii)

is likely to cause serious harm to others; or

(iii)

will, if not treated for the mental illness, continue to suffer severe and abnormal mental, emotional, or physical distress, will continue to experience deterioration of his ability to function independently, and is unable to make a rational and informed decision as to whether or not to submit to treatment.

(2)

Youth with mental retardation who are unable to progress in rehabilitation programs and therefore, shall be discharged, are those who meet the following criteria:

(A)

the youth has completed the initial minimum length of stay;

(B)

the youth has been diagnosed with an IQ below 62.5 with accompanying deficits in adaptive behavior;

(C)

a licensed psychologist and/or psychiatrist has determined that the mental retardation is the reason for the youth's inability to engage in productive interaction as required by the agency's resocialization program; and

(D)

a licensed psychologist and/or psychiatrist has determined that because of retardation, the youth:

(i)

represents a substantial risk of physical impairment or injury to himself or others; or

(ii)

is unable to provide for and is not providing for his/her most basic personal physical needs.

(f)

(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 April 26, 2001.

TRD-200102421

Steve Robinson

Executive Director

Texas Youth Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 10, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6301


Chapter 93. YOUTH RIGHTS AND REMEDIES

37 TAC §93.33

The Texas Youth Commission (TYC) proposes an amendment to §93.33, concerning Alleged Mistreatment. The amendment to the section will outline specific guidelines for release of a category 1 alleged mistreatment report. If the decision authority relies on evidence from this report to take disciplinary action, the employee disciplined may request a copy of the report. The report must be edited to protect the confidentiality of staff witnesses if the employee being disciplined is receiving a disciplinary action less than termination. The decision authority has discretion of whether or not to release the names of staff witnesses when the decision authority determines it is necessary for the fair resolution of contested facts.

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

Mr. McCullough also 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 a specific protocol for how reports containing confidential information are distributed. There will be no effect on small businesses. There is no anticipated economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the section as proposed. No private real property rights are affected by adoption of this rule.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Sherma Cragg, Chief of Policy and Manuals, Texas Youth Commission, 4900 North Lamar, P.O. Box 4260, Austin, Texas 78765.

The amendment is proposed under the Human Resources Code, §61.045, which provides the Texas Youth Commission with the authority to operate programs and be responsible for the welfare, custody and rehabilitation of youth.

The proposed rule implements the Human Resource Code, §61.034.

§93.33.Alleged Mistreatment.

(a) - (f)

(No change)

(g)

A category 1 alleged mistreatment report is confidential and not subject to release under Chapter 552 of the Government Code. However, in the furtherance of the administration of justice, any evidence relied upon by a decision authority [ decision maker ] in a disciplinary action should be disclosed to the employee who has been disciplined. Therefore, an employee who challenges a disciplinary action of written reprimand (level 2) [ level 2 ] or above, which was based upon information gathered during a category 1 alleged mistreatment investigation, may make a written request for a copy of the report. The requested report and all supporting documents for a written reprimand (level 2) or above, except for disciplinary action regarding termination (level 6), shall be edited to protect the confidentiality of staff witnesses. The decision authority has the discretion to release the names of staff witnesses in such cases only when the decision authority determines it necessary for the fair resolution of contested facts. A copy of the investigator's report with supporting documents may be released to the employee, provided the investigator's assessment and evaluation of the evidence have been deleted. The deleted portion of the report would include, but not be limited to: findings, conclusions, recommendations and opinions of the investigator. The report and all supporting documents shall be edited to protect youth confidentiality.

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 April 26, 2001.

TRD-200102424

Steve Robinson

Executive Director

Texas Youth Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 10, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6301


Chapter 95. YOUTH DISCIPLINE

Subchapter A. DISCIPLINARY PRACTICES

37 TAC §95.21

The Texas Youth Commission (TYC) proposes an amendment to §95.21, concerning Aggression Management Program. The amendment to the section contains minor grammatical changes throughout the rule for clarification purposes. Added to the eligibility criteria is the requirement that a youth is eligible for the AMP if the youth has committed an assault with bodily injury on three separate occasions over a 90-day period, and each assault was committed after a hearing and disposition had been made. Other changes were made requiring the facility psychiatrist to review admission decisions for youth with a psychiatric history. Also added to the rule is that a current mental health assessment indicates there is no therapeutic contraindication to placement in the AMP. For consistency and clarification purposes it was added that a youth is eligible for admission to AMP once a finding of true has been made for eligible conduct via a level I or II hearing. A clarification was made that the admission review committee has discretion whether or not to approve admission into AMP for a youth that has substantially completed a placement in a behavior management program with no incidents of aggression. Changes were made in the mental health review section. A provision was included to allow youth with neurological psychiatric and/or emotional problems be temporarily admitted to the Corsicana Stabilization Unit (CSU) for diagnostic purposes to determine appropriate placement in AMP or CSU. A psychologist or psychiatrist may recommend that a youth be released from AMP for mental health reasons with approval from the director of clinical services of the facility. A provision for a youth to appeal a placement decision to AMP was also added.

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

Mr. McCullough also 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 more defined criteria for the youth placed in the AMP to be truly aggressive youth with no pervasive mental health problems. There will be no effect on small businesses. There is no anticipated economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the section as proposed. No private real property rights are affected by adoption of this rule.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Sherma Cragg, Chief of Policy and Manuals, Texas Youth Commission, 4900 North Lamar, P.O. Box 4260, Austin, Texas 78765.

The amendment is proposed under the Human Resources Code, §61.075, which provides the Texas Youth Commission with the authority to permit the youth under jurisdiction, liberty under supervision, order the youth's confinement under conditions it believes best designed for the youth's welfare and interest of the public.

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

§95.21.Aggression Management Program.

(a)

Purpose. The purpose of this rule is to provide criteria for removing from the general population youth assigned to a Texas Youth Commission (TYC) institution for dangerously aggressive behavior and placing a youth in the Aggression Management Program (AMP). The goal of the program is to safely manage and treat the aggressive behavior in a self-contained unit. The AMP program will be used for youth who have not been responsive to other less restrictive interventions and pose a continuous threat of danger to other youth and/or staff. The AMP is a highly structured program designed to address aggressive behavior modification and provide a system of graduated reintegration into the general population. Placement in the AMP [ aggression management program ] is a major disciplinary consequence.

(b)

Authorized Facilities.

(1)

The McLennan County State Juvenile Corrections Facility (MCSJC) in Mart, Texas is the only facility authorized to administer the AMP.

(2)

TYC contract programs shall not develop an AMP. TYC contract programs shall not place TYC youth residing in the contract program in the TYC AMP program.

(c)

Eligibility Criteria. Any youth,(other than females or sentenced offenders eligible for transfer to the Institutions Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ)), are eligible for the AMP if at the youth's current institutional placement: [ A youth is eligible for the aggression management program. ]

(1)

a level I or II hearing [ if, at the youth's current institutional placement, a level II hearing ] has been held and a finding made that the youth engaged in eligible conduct for the AMP with no extenuating circumstance; and

(2)

the youth committed, attempted to commit, or helped someone else [ to ] commit at least one of the following offenses:

(A)

assault resulting in substantial bodily injury (involving more than a passing discomfort or fleeting pain); or [ that involves more than a passing discomfort or fleeting pain; or ]

(B)

an assault causing bodily injury on three separate occasions over a 90-day period and each assault was committed after a level I or II hearing disposition had been made.

(C)

[ (B) ] intentionally partiticpated [ participating ] in a riot; or

(D)

[ (C) ] used or threatened [ using or threatening ] to use either an object defined as a weapon by the Penal Code or an object that could be used as a weapon, which placed the victim in fear of imminent bodily injury.

(3)

If the disposition at the level I or II hearing [ level II hearing ] held pursuant to this policy resulted in a transfer to AMP, but bed space is not available [ in AMP ], the youth will be [ may be ] assigned to a placement in the Behavior Management Program (BMP) pending admission to AMP (at the youth's current placement) with an assigned maximum length of stay[ , pending admission to AMP ]. However, if the youth completes the maximum length of stay in the BMP prior to admission to AMP, the youth shall not be admitted to AMP as a result of the conduct determined at the level II hearing that resulted in the current assignment to BMP .

[ (4)

The following are specifically disqualified from placement in the AMP.]

[ (A)

females;]

[ (B)

sentenced offenders who are eligible for transfer to the Institutions Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.]

(d)

Admission Decision Process [ Admission Criteria ].

(1)

The local AMP Admission Review Committee at the MCSJC facility [ McLennan County State Juvenile Correctional MCSJC Facility ] is composed of at least the assistant superintendent, AMP psychologist, and the AMP program administrator. The facility psychiatrist shall review admission decisions for youth with a psychiatric history.

(2)

The AMP Admission Review Committee shall approve admission to the AMP based on the following considerations.

(A)

Current mental health assessment that indicates there is no therapeutic contraindication to placement in the AMP, [ Evidence that the youth is not suffering from a major emotional disturbance and/or psychiatric disorder but the behavior is the primary result of a conduct disorder or antisocial personality disorder. ]

(B)

documentation [ Documentation ] that less restrictive interventions have been attempted without successfully reducing the behavior and that the AMP represents the least restrictive available and appropriate intervention , and [ . ]

(C)

a finding of true of eligible conduct in a level I or II hearing.

(3)

The AMP Admission Review Committee shall not approve admission to the AMP for a youth who was placed in BMP pending admission to AMP if the maximum length of stay assigned for that BMP placement has been completed.

(4)

The AMP Admission Review Committee has discretion whether or not to [ should not ] approve admission to the AMP if a youth has substantially completed a placement in BMP without an incidence of aggression.

(5)

Priority is given to youth with the most dangerous, recent and chronic aggressive behavior, greater frequency of the use of weapons, and older age.

(e)

Release from AMP.

(1)

Program Completion Requirements.

(A)

Youth are released from AMP upon successful completion of requirements:

(i)

stages I through V of the AMP [ program ]; and

(ii)

phase II of the resocialization program.

(I)

stage I. Youth must complete a minimum of 15 consecutive days without an aggressive act or credible threat of one; and

(II)

stages II - V. Youth must:

(-a-)

complete a minimum of 30 consecutive days on each stage without an aggressive act or credible threat of one; and

(-b-)

have 30 days on each stage of program compliance; and

(-c-)

phase II of the resocialization program.

(B)

Program compliance is defined as completion of the resocialization phases (phase components) required for each of the stages as specified in this policy.

(i)

Progress is based on successful completion of the ICP objectives established in each of the five stages of AMP.

(ii)

Progress is assessed by the AMP treatment team consisting of the youth's Primary Services Worker (PSW), [ the ] AMP program administrator, AMP psychologist, [ a ]JCO staff, and [ a ] teacher (or representative of education department.) Additional members may be appointed to the team as needed.

(iii)

The treatment team will staff youth weekly to review progress in the behavioral and treatment objectives.

(iv)

The treatment team will determine the appropriate stage for each youth using compliance with ICP objectives as the criteria. A youth may be retained on or promoted to the next stage based on completing ICP objectives. However, youth may be assigned to a lower stage based only on specific acts of aggressive behavior. The treatment team shall document the reasons used to support their decisions and may make recommendations for modification of the treatment objectives or strategies.

(v)

The treatment team will conduct assessments to determine the youth's resocialization phase at least every 30 days.

(C)

The AMP treatment team will determine when a youth has successfully completed all the criteria for release from the AMP, and the youth shall be released from AMP.

(D)

The superintendent or designee will determine whether the youth will be permanently assigned to the MCSJC general campus program or be referred for placement elsewhere. If the youth is to be transferred, the superintendent or designee will refer the case to the Centralized Placement Unit (CPU) for placement assignment.

(2)

Mental Health Review [ Mental Health Release ].

(A)

Youth with neurological, and/or emotional disturbance, and/or psychiatric disorder may be temporarily admitted to the Corsicana Stabilization Unit (CSU) pursuant to (GAP) §87.67(c)(3) of this title (relating to Corsicana Stabilization Unit) for diagnostic purposes to determine appropriate placement in AMP or CSU.

(B)

Youth may be released from AMP at any time for mental health reasons based on a recommendation by the AMP psychologist or psychiatrist and approved by the director of clinical services at MCSJC faciltiy [ MCSJCF ].

(f) - (i)

(No change)

(j)

Appeal. The youth shall be notified in writing of his/her right to appeal to the executive director. See (GAP) §93.53 of this title (relating to Appeal to Executive Director). The pendency of an appeal shall not preclude implementation of the decision.

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 April 26, 2001.

TRD-200102422

Steve Robinson

Executive Director

Texas Youth Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 10, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6301


Chapter 111. CONTRACTING FOR SERVICES OTHER THAN YOUTH SERVICES

37 TAC §111.45

The Texas Youth Commission (TYC) proposes an amendment to §111.45, concerning 1st Choice Recycled-Content Products. The amendment to the section makes a change of when a justification letter is needed. A 1st Choice justification letter is not required when the combined total purchase on a single order is equal to or less than $150.00.

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

Mr. McCullough also 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 compliance with General Services Commission standards. There will be no effect on small businesses. There is no anticipated economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the section as proposed. No private real property rights are affected by adoption of this rule.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Sherma Cragg, Chief of Policy and Manuals, Texas Youth Commission, 4900 North Lamar, P.O. Box 4260, Austin, Texas 78765.

The amendment is proposed under the Human Resources Code, §61.034, which provides the Texas Youth Commission with the broad rule-making authority; Texas Government Code, §2155.448 and Texas Administrative Code §113.136 and §113.137, which requires state agencies to adopt the GSC rule.

The proposed rule implements the Human Resource Code, §61.034.

§111.45.1st Choice Recycled-Content Products.

(a)

(No change)

(b)

Explanation of Terms Used.

(1)

Recycling Market Development Board (RMDB)--The RMDB is charged with pursing an economic development strategy that focuses on the state's waste management priorities including development of recycling industries and markets. The RMDB consists of the agency heads of the General Services Commission (GSC), the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission (TNRCC), the Texas Department of Transportation (TDOT), the Texas General Land Office (TGLO), and the Texas Department of Economic Development (TDED).

(2)

1st Choice Recycled-Content Products--designated by the RMDB as the default and preferred recycled purchase items for state agencies. The RMDB will add to the list of 1st Choice recycled-content products on an annual basis.

(3)

Virgin Counterpart--products defined in 1st Choice recycled-content products which are not recycled, remanufactured, or environmentally sensitive commodities or services.

(4)

Justification Letter--deviations from 1st Choice products require a letter to GSC justifying the purchase of the virgin equivalent product(s) prior to acquiring the item(s). Factors for deviations are cost, quality, not available, and other reasons. A 1st Choice justification letter is not required when the combined total purchase on a single purchase order is equal to or less than $150.00.

(c) - (h)

(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 April 26, 2001.

TRD-200102423

Steve Robinson

Executive Director

Texas Youth Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 10, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6301


Part 11. TEXAS JUVENILE PROBATION COMMISSION

Chapter 341. TEXAS JUVENILE PROBATION COMMISSION STANDARDS

The Texas Juvenile Probation Commission proposes new chapter 341 rules relating to Texas Juvenile Probation Commission standards. The proposed standards provide structural and substantive changes from the current standards.

Erika Sipiora, Staff Attorney, 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 or small businesses as a result of enforcement or implementation.

Ms. Sipiora has also determined that for each year of the first five years the amendment is in effect, the public benefit expected as a result of enforcement will be the consistent standards to all counties across the State of Texas which will provide TJPC with a more accurate account in evaluating the effectiveness and services provided within the juvenile probation system. There will be no impact on small business or individuals as a result of the amendments.

Public comments on the proposed amendments may be submitted to Kristy M. Carr at the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission, P.O. Box 13547, Austin, Texas 78711-3547.

Subchapter A. DEFINITIONS

37 TAC §341.1

These standards are proposed under §141.042 of the Texas Human Resource Code, which provides the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission with the authority to adopt reasonable rules which provide minimum standards for juvenile boards.

No other code or article is affected by these new standards. Subchapter A. Definitions.

§341.1.Definitions.

The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1)

Chief Administrative Officer--regardless of title, the person hired by a juvenile board who is responsible for oversight of the day-to-day operations of a juvenile probation department or a multi-county juvenile judicial district.

(2)

Commission--the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission

(3)

Courtesy Supervision--practice where a juvenile probation department agrees to supervise a juvenile who is under the jurisdiction of another county's juvenile probation department.

(4)

Financial Records--any documentation associated with the expenditure of state dollars that would be required to substantiate a purchase.

(5)

Fiscal Officer--county or district auditor or treasurer or their designee provided the designee is a qualified accountant or bookkeeper.

(6)

Internal Controls--the process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the achievement of objectives in the following categories: effectiveness and efficiency of operations, reliability of financial reporting, safeguarding of assets and compliance with laws and regulations.

(7)

Juvenile Justice Program--a non-residential program operated for the benefit of juveniles referred to a juvenile probation department that is either directly administered by the juvenile probation department, or is operated under contract with a juvenile board. A juvenile justice program does not include any program operated in a facility that is licensed or operated by a state agency other than the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission.

(8)

Mechanical Restraint Devices--devices used for the physical restraint of juveniles including but not limited to handcuffs, wristlets, anklets, ankle cuffs, plastic cuffs, restraint chairs, restraint jackets and waistbands.

(9)

Referral--a referral to the juvenile court for conduct defined in Texas Family Code Section 51.03 that results in a face-to-face interview between the juvenile and the authorized staff of the juvenile probation department.

(10)

State Aid--funds allocated by the Commission to a juvenile board to assist the board financially in achieving the purposes of Chapter 141 of the Texas Human Resources Code and in conforming to the Commission's standards or policies.

(11)

Video Training--pre-recorded training materials or conferences. Video training does not include video teleconferences.

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 April 23, 2001.

TRD-200102353

Lisa Capers

Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel

Texas Juvenile Probation Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 10, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6710


Subchapter B. JUVENILE BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES

37 TAC §§341.2 - 341.6

The new sections are proposed under §141.042 of the Texas Human Resource Code, which provides the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission with the authority to adopt reasonable rules which provide minimum standards for juvenile boards.

No other code or article is affected by these new sections.

§341.2.Administration.

(a)

Local juvenile probation services administration.

(1)

The juvenile board shall employ a chief administrative officer for each autonomous juvenile probation department.

(2)

The juvenile board shall specify the responsibilities and functions of the juvenile probation department as well as the authority, responsibility, and function of the position of the chief administrative officer.

(3)

When probation services for adult and juvenile offenders are provided by a single probation office, the juvenile board shall ensure that the juvenile probation department policies, programs, and procedures are clearly differentiated.

(b)

Referral ratio. The juvenile board shall employ at least one certified juvenile probation officer for each 100 referrals made to the juvenile probation department annually.

(c)

Compliance with State and Federal Law. The juvenile board shall abide by and shall ensure that the juvenile probation department abides by all applicable state, federal and local laws including any applicable standards promulgated by the Commission.

(d)

Conflict of interest. A juvenile board member shall not participate in any decision, which would create a pecuniary benefit to the individual member.

(e)

Participation in Community Resource Coordination Groups. Juvenile boards shall participate in the system of community resource coordination groups and the procedures in the memorandum of understanding adopted in §341.157 of this title (relating to Coordinated Services for Multiproblem Children and Youth). The chair of the juvenile board or a judicial member of the juvenile board designated by the chair shall serve as representative to the interagency dispute resolution process described in the memorandum of understanding.

§341.3.Fiscal Responsibilities.

(a)

Fiscal Policies. The juvenile board shall develop and maintain fiscal policies and procedures. These policies shall include at a minimum the following subjects: salary provisions, employee benefits, travel and reimbursement procedures, collection of probation fees and restitution funds, authorized signatures for disbursements, petty cash and bonding.

(b)

Fiscal Officer. The juvenile board shall assign accounting responsibility for fiscal affairs to an appropriate county or district fiscal officer. The fiscal officer shall not be an employee of the juvenile probation department.

§341.4.Policy and Procedures.

(a)

Personnel Policies. The juvenile board shall adopt written personnel policies. These personnel policies shall include but not be limited to:

(1)

a salary scale for all juvenile probation department personnel. Juvenile probation department personnel shall receive all applicable benefits and allowances paid to county employees. Salary scale levels shall be reasonable and comparable with prevailing salaries in the public and private sectors for similar occupations, educational and professional requirements;

(2)

an annual employee appraisal; and

(3)

an employee grievance procedure.

(b)

Department Policies and Procedures. The juvenile board shall adopt written department policies and procedures. These policies shall include but not be limited to:

(1)

intake and preliminary investigation;

(2)

detention;

(3)

transportation including the use of mechanical restraint devices during transportation;

(4)

deferred prosecution. The deferred prosecution policy shall at a minimum include the following policies;

(A)

The maximum supervision fee for deferred prosecution cases is $15.00 per month.

(B)

The monthly fee shall be determined after obtaining a financial statement from the parent or guardian. The fee schedule shall be based on total parent/guardian income.

(C)

The Chief Administrative Officer, or the Chief Administrative Officer's designee shall approve in writing the fee assessed for each child including any waiver of deferred prosecution fees.

(D)

A deferred prosecution fee shall not be imposed if the juvenile court does not adopt a fee schedule and rules for waiver of the deferred prosecution fee.

(5)

pre-disposition reports and social history;

(6)

court procedures;

(7)

sex offender registration under Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 62 and sex offender probation under Texas Family Code Section 54.0405;

(8)

progressive sanctions;

(9)

probation supervision including case planning and management;

(10)

restitution;

(11)

community service restitution;

(12)

courtesy supervision;

(13)

probation modification/revocation;

(14)

residential placements

(15)

TYC commitments and transportation;

(16)

discharge procedures, exit plans and sealing information;

(17)

Interstate Compact;

(18)

Juvenile Justice Information System;

(19)

Volunteers and Interns. If a juvenile probation department has or develops a volunteer or internship program, the juvenile board at a minimum shall adopt the following polices for the volunteer program:

(A)

a description of the authority, responsibility and accountability of volunteers who work with the department;

(B)

screening including performing a criminal history check in accordance with §341.40 (a) and (b);

(C)

selection and termination criteria;

(D)

orientation and training requirements;

(E)

a requirement that volunteers meet minimum professional requirements; and

(F)

a provision for a volunteer sign in log; and

(20)

Mechanical Restraints Devices used in Juvenile Justice Programs. The mechanical restraint devices policy shall at a minimum include the following policies:

(A)

Mechanical restraints shall only be used by a law enforcement officer, certified juvenile probation officer, certified detention officer, or certified correctional officer.

(B)

Mechanical restraint devices shall not be used for punishment, discipline, or intimidation.

(C)

The use of mechanical restraint devices shall be fully documented.

(D)

Use of a mechanical restraint device shall be terminated as soon as the youth's behavior indicates that threat of imminent self-injury or injury to others are absent.

(21)

Victims Rights. Policies and procedures shall afford victims their rights under Texas Family Code, Chapter 57.

(c)

Annual Review. The juvenile board shall review all of its policies and procedures on an annual basis.

§341.5.Facilities and Support Services.

(a)

Minimum facilities. Adequate office space shall be provided for all juvenile probation personnel. There shall be a private office or a place for interviewing and counseling clients. Each office shall have adequate lighting, air conditioning, heating, telephones, furniture, equipment, and square footage to provide services. The location of the juvenile probation facility and other field offices shall be reasonably accessible to children, families, and the general community.

(b)

Minimum Support Services. Juvenile probation officers shall have adequate support services and staff in order to carry out their duties and responsibilities.

§341.6.Waiver to Standards.

(a)

Who May Request. Unless expressly prohibited by another standard, the juvenile board, or chief administrative officer may make an application for waiver of any standard or standards adopted by the Commission. If the chief administrative officer makes a request for waiver, the chief administrative officer shall in writing notify the juvenile board of the request simultaneous with the request's submission to the Commission.

(b)

Contents of Request. The written request for waiver shall:

(1)

explain why said standard or standards cannot be complied with immediately;

(2)

explain the impact the waiver if granted, would have on other standards; and

(3)

provide a plan to ensure compliance within a period not to exceed one year including where applicable how the health and safety of juveniles would be maintained during the duration of the waiver.

(c)

Length of Waiver. Waivers granted by Commission staff under this section shall not exceed one year. The juvenile board may request one subsequent waiver.

(d)

Review of Request. In the event a request for waiver is denied, the juvenile board, or chief administrative officer may request a review by the Commission. The review of the waiver request shall occur at the next regularly scheduled Commission meeting.

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 April 23, 2001.

TRD-200102354

Lisa Capers

Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel

Texas Juvenile Probation Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 10, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6710


Subchapter C. CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER RESPONSIBILITIES

37 TAC §§341.13 - 341.17

The new sections are proposed under §141.042 of the Texas Human Resource Code, which provides the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission with the authority to adopt reasonable rules which provide minimum standards for juvenile boards.

No other code or article is affected by these new sections.

§341.13.Administrative Manual.

(a)

The chief administrative officer shall maintain an administrative manual for the juvenile probation department. The administrative manual shall include:

(1)

the policies, procedures, and regulations of the juvenile probation department as adopted by the juvenile board; and

(2)

a current organizational chart depicting structure, lines of authority, and responsibility.

(b)

The chief administrative officer shall provide all employees with a copy of or access to the administrative manual, update the manual on an annual basis and enforce all policies in the manual.

§341.14.Identification.

The chief administrative officer shall furnish each juvenile probation officer with proper official identification.

§341.15.Supervision.

The chief administrative officer shall ensure that all juveniles given court ordered probation or deferred prosecution are supervised by a certified juvenile probation officer.

§341.16.Treatment and Safety.

(a)

Serious Incidents. The chief administrative officer shall report the death, attempted suicide, and any serious injury that requires medical treatment by a physician or physician's assistant that occurs in a juvenile justice program or juvenile probation department within 24 hours of discovering the incident.

(b)

Child Abuse and Neglect. The chief administrative officer shall ensure that any allegation of abuse or neglect occurring in a juvenile justice program or juvenile probation department is reported to the Commission within 24 hours of having cause to believe a child has been abused or neglected. The chief administrative officer shall also ensure that a report is made to local law enforcement in accordance with Texas Family Code Chapter 261.

(1)

Internal Investigation. The chief administrative officer shall maintain written policy and procedure requiring an internal investigation of all allegations of child abuse or neglect in the department or any juvenile justice program.

(A)

The policy shall require:

(i)

all staff members to fully cooperate with any investigation of alleged child abuse or neglect in the department or program;

(ii)

any person alleged to be a perpetrator of child abuse or neglect be put on administrative leave or reassigned to a position having no contact with children in the department or program until the conclusion of the internal investigation;

(iii)

the alleged perpetrator have no contact with the alleged victim(s) pending the conclusions of the internal investigation.

(B)

At the conclusion of the internal investigation of child abuse or neglect, the chief administrative officer shall take appropriate measures to provide for the safety of children.

(C)

The chief administrative officer shall submit a copy of the internal investigation to TJPC within 2 working days following the completion of the internal investigation.

(D)

In the event the chief administrative officer is alleged to be a perpetrator of child abuse or neglect, the juvenile board shall :

(i)

conduct the internal investigation or appoint an individual who is not an employee of the juvenile probation department to conduct the internal investigation; and

(ii)

place the chief administrative officer on administrative leave, or ensure the chief administrative officer has no contact with children in the department or juvenile justice program until the conclusion of the internal investigation.

(2)

Treatment and Safety. The chief administrative officer shall ensure that juveniles under supervision of the juvenile probation department or participating in a juvenile justice program shall not be subjected to abuse or neglect as defined in Chapter 261, Texas Family Code.

§341.17.Participation in Community Resource Coordination Groups.

The chief administrative officer or the chief administrative officer's designee shall serve as the liaison to the community resource coordination group in accordance with the memorandum of understanding relating to coordinated services for multiproblem youth adopted in §341.157.

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 April 23, 2001.

TRD-200102355

Lisa Capers

Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel

Texas Juvenile Probation Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 10, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6710


Subchapter D. FISCAL OFFICER RESPONSIBILITIES

37 TAC §§341.24 - 341.31

The new sections are proposed under §141.042 of the Texas Human Resource Code, which provides the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission with the authority to adopt reasonable rules which provide minimum standards for juvenile boards.

No other code or article is affected by these new sections.

§341.24.Accounting.

Under the guidance of the juvenile board or chief administrative officer, the fiscal officer shall oversee the business affairs of the department utilizing generally accepted accounting principles and best business practices.

§341.25.Interest on State Funds.

The fiscal officer shall ensure that state funds are held in an interest bearing account that provides for necessary protection of principle. Interest earnings on state funds shall be accounted for separately and expended for the sole benefit of the juvenile probation department.

§341.26.Purchasing.

The fiscal officer shall ensure that purchases made for the juvenile probation department are made in accordance with county procurement procedures. The fiscal officer shall ensure that written contracts are executed by the juvenile board or its designee with any public and private service provider where services are purchased in whole or in part with any funds received from the Commission.

§341.27.Expenditure of State Funds.

The fiscal officer shall ensure that all program activities and expenditures of state funds are consistent with the purposes outlined in the budget documents of all applicable financial agreements with the Commission.

§341.28.Internal Controls.

The fiscal officer shall establish and maintain the internal controls for the juvenile probation department. The fiscal officer shall ensure that all employees with access to monies are bonded.

§341.29.Financial Reporting.

The fiscal officer is responsible for completion and submission of the following in accordance with Commission guidelines:

(1)

quarterly expenditure reports for grant funds received from the Commission;

(2)

annual certification of local expenditure reports;

(3)

annual independent financial compliance audit of all funds received from the Commission; and

(4)

other financial reports as requested by the Commission.

§341.30.Refunds to the Commission.

(a)

The fiscal officer shall ensure that TJPC is reimbursed immediately for each dollar of unallowable costs if unallowable expenditures are discovered by any means.

(b)

Unspent grant funds at the end of each contract period shall be returned to the Commission.

§341.31.Records Retention.

The fiscal officer shall ensure that financial records are retained and made available for inspection by the Commission for a minimum of three years after the end of the applicable contract period.

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 April 23, 2001.

TRD-200102356

Lisa Capers

Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel

Texas Juvenile Probation Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 10, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6710


Subchapter E. EMPLOYMENT OF JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICERS

37 TAC §§341.38 - 341.42

The new sections are proposed under §141.042 of the Texas Human Resource Code, which provides the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission with the authority to adopt reasonable rules which provide minimum standards for juvenile boards.

No other code or article is affected by these new sections.

§341.38.Qualifications for Employment.

(a)

Certified juvenile probation officer qualifications for employment shall adhere to the Texas Human Resources Code §141.061(a) and any additional standards promulgated by the Commission.

(b)

One Year of Graduate Study Defined. The phrase "one year of graduate study," in Texas Human Resources Code §141.061(a)(3)(A), is interpreted to mean at least 18 post-graduate credit hours earned in a behavioral science field with certification from the school of enrollment attesting that the student has an acceptable scholastic standing. The fields of graduate study presently approved by the Commission are: criminology; corrections, counseling, law, social work, psychology, sociology, cultural anthropology, business management, public administration, and education.

(c)

Internships. Internships may be counted toward meeting one year's experience, where the duties performed were related to the field of juvenile justice.

§341.39.Exemption from Qualifications.

(a)

The juvenile board, or chief administrative officer shall apply to the Commission for exemption of the requirements of one year of experience or graduate study prior to the employment of any individual who is hired for the position of juvenile probation officer. If the chief administrative officer makes a request for exemption under this section, the chief administrative officer shall in writing notify the juvenile board of the request simultaneous with the request's submission to the Commission.

(b)

The exemption request shall be made using the form provided by the Commission. The exemption request shall document that diligent efforts were made to employ a probation officer with one year of experience or graduate study and state why, in their opinion, the efforts were unsuccessful.

§341.40.Criminal Records Check.

Prior to employing a person as a certified juvenile probation officer, supervisor of juvenile probation officers, or chief administrative officer, the chief administrative officer or juvenile board shall conduct and have returned a criminal history check in accordance with the following guidelines:

(1)

The following criminal history checks shall be conducted:

(A)

a Texas criminal history background search (TCIC);

(B)

a local law enforcement sex offender registration records check in the city or county where the application was made; and

(C)

a Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprint based criminal history background search (NCIC).

(2)

In addition to the requirements of (a), if the applicant currently resides in one of the following states, or resided in one of the following states within the 10 years prior to the date the employment application was made, a state criminal history background search and state sex offender registration check shall also be conducted where available:

(A)

Hawaii

(B)

Kansas;

(C)

Kentucky;

(D)

Louisiana;

(E)

Maine;

(F)

Massachusetts;

(G)

New Hampshire;

(H)

Rhode Island;

(I)

Tennessee;

(J)

Vermont; and

(K)

the District of Columbia;

(3)

An Internet based criminal background search shall not be used to conduct the background searches required under (a)(1) or (b)(1).

§341.41.Disqualification from Employment.

(a)

A person who within the last ten years has been convicted of or placed on deferred adjudication for a felony offense under the laws of this State, another State, or the United States, is currently on either felony probation or parole, ,or who is registered as a sex offender under Chapter 62, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure is not eligible for employment as a juvenile probation officer. A request for waiver under §341.6 of this title may not be requested for this section unless the person received a pardon based upon proof of innocence.

(b)

An individual whose certification has been revoked by the Commission shall never qualify for employment as juvenile probation officer. An individual whose certification is currently under a suspension order issued under §341.88(d)(2) shall not qualify for employment as a juvenile probation officer so long as the suspension order remains in effect. An individual whose certification is currently under a suspension order issued under §341.109(a) shall not qualify for employment as a juvenile probation officer until the Commission receives an order issued under Texas Family Code Section 232.013 staying or vacating the license suspension.

§341.42.Applicability.

This subchapter applies to all individuals hired on or after the effective date of this subchapter. Section 341.40(a)(3) does not become effective until September 1, 2002.

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 April 23, 2001.

TRD-200102357

Lisa Capers

Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel

Texas Juvenile Probation Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 10, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6710


Subchapter F. CERTIFICATION OF JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICERS

37 TAC §§341.48 - 341.53

The new sections are proposed under §141.042 of the Texas Human Resource Code, which provides the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission with the authority to adopt reasonable rules which provide minimum standards for juvenile boards.

No other code or article is affected by these new sections.

§341.48.Persons Who Must be Certified.

The chief administrative officer of a juvenile probation department, and any person hired as a juvenile probation officer, or as a supervisor of juvenile probation officers shall obtain and maintain an active juvenile probation officer certification from the Commission.

§341.49.Certification.

(a)

Eligibility. A person twenty-one years of age or older, including the chief administrative officer, is eligible for certification as a juvenile probation officer when the person:

(1)

meets the eligibility requirements under §341.38 of this title, or has received an exemption under §341.39;

(2)

has completed 40 hours of certification training in accordance with §341.60 of this title;

(3)

has not within the past ten years been convicted or placed on deferred adjudication for a felony against the laws of this state, another state, or the United States, is not currently on felony probation or parole, or is not registered as a sex offender under Chapter 62, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. A request for waiver under §341.6 of this title may not be requested for this requirement unless the person received a pardon based upon proof of innocence;

(4)

is not currently under an order of certification suspension issued under §341.88(d)(2) or §341.109(a); and

(5)

has never had certified juvenile probation officer certification revoked under §341.88(d)(3) or §341.103(d).

(b)

Certification Procedures.

(1)

Juvenile Probation Officers and Supervisors of Juvenile Probation Officers. The chief administrative officer or the chief administrative officer's designee shall submit a certification application to the Commission for all juvenile probation officers and supervisors of juvenile probation officers. The certification application shall include verification that a criminal history check conducted in accordance with § 341.40 (a) and (c) has been returned within the 60 days prior to submitting the certification application. If the certification applicant currently resides outside of Texas, then the criminal history verification shall also include verification that a criminal history background check was conducted in accordance with §341.40(b) and returned within 60 days prior to submitting the certification application. A copy of the criminal history check shall be retained in the juvenile probation department's records.

(2)

Chief Administrative Officers. The chairman of the juvenile board shall submit the chief administrative officer's certification application to the Commission. The certification application shall include verification that a criminal history check conducted in accordance with §341.40 (a) and (c) has been returned within the 60 days prior to submitting the certification application. If the certification applicant currently resides outside of Texas, then the criminal history verification shall also include verification that a criminal history background check was conducted in accordance with §341.40(b) and returned within 60 days prior to submitting the certification application. A copy of the criminal history check shall be retained in the juvenile probation department's records.

(c)

Length of Certification. A certification is valid for two years from the date of approval.

(d)

Reinstatement of Certification after Suspension.

(1)

An individual whose certification has been suspended under §341.88(d)(2) of this title may apply for certification once the suspension period has expired and the individual meets the certification eligibility requirements listed under subsection (a) of this section.

(2)

An individual whose certification has been suspended under §341.109(a) of this title may apply for certification once TJPC has received an order issued under Texas Family Code Section 232.013, which either vacates or stays the suspension order and the individual meets the certification eligibility requirements listed under subsection (a) of this section.

§341.50.Recertification.

(a)

Eligibility. A certified juvenile probation officer, including a supervisor of juvenile probation officers and the chief administrative officer, is eligible for recertification if the officer:

(1)

has not within the past 10 years been convicted or placed on deferred adjudication for a felony offense against the laws of this state, the laws of another state or the laws of the United States is not currently on felony probation or parole, or is not registered as a sex offender under Chapter 62, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. A request for waiver under §341.6 of this title may not be requested for this requirement unless the person received a pardon based upon proof of innocence; and

(2)

has within the two years from the date of the certification's or recertification's approval completed 80 hours of recertification training in accordance with §341.61 of this title; and

(3)

does not currently have juvenile probation officer certification suspended under §341.88(d)(2) or §341.109(a).

(4)

If the person applying for re-certification is the chief administrative officer, 20 hours of the required recertification training shall be in management and supervisory skills.

(b)

Recertification Procedures.

(1)

Submission. The chief administrative officer or the chief administrative officer's designee shall submit a recertification application to the Commission for all certified juvenile probation officers and supervisors of juvenile probation officers. The juvenile board, or the juvenile board's designee shall submit the chief administrative officer's recertification application.

(2)

Timeline for Submission. Unless a request for extension has been made under paragraph (4) of this subsection, the recertification application shall not be sent more than 30 days before or 60 days after the certification expiration date.

(3)

Verification of Criminal History. All recertification applications shall include verification that a criminal history check was conducted in accordance with §341.40 (a) and (c) and returned within the 60 days prior to submitting the certification application. If the recertification applicant currently resides outside of Texas, then the criminal history verification shall also include verification that a criminal history background check was conducted in accordance with §341.40(b) and returned within 60 days prior to submitting the certification application. A copy of the criminal history check shall be retained in the juvenile probation department's records.

(4)

Extension.

(A)

Requests for Extension. The juvenile board, the chief administrative officer or either's designee may request an extension of time to allow a certified juvenile probation officer additional time to meet the recertification eligibility requirements listed in subsection (a) of this section or for the submission of recertification applications listed in paragraph (2) of this subsection. The request shall include an explanation showing cause why an extension is needed.

(B)

Grants of Extension. Commission staff may grant an extension for a period not to exceed 90 days from the date the certification expired.

(C)

Failure to complete the training or submission requirements within the extension period shall result in the Commission's denial of the recertification application. In the event the recertification application is denied, an applicant may apply for certification under §341.49.

(c)

Length of Recertification. A recertification is valid for two years from the date of expiration of the previous certification or recertification.

§341.51.Transfer of Certification.

(a)

Notification Upon Resignation or Termination. The chief administrative officer, the juvenile board or either's designee shall notify the Commission within 7 working days after a certified juvenile probation officer, including the chief administrative officer, resigns or is terminated from employment.

(b)

Inactive Certifications. Upon receipt of notice under subsection (a) of this section, the Commission shall place the probation officer's, supervisor of juvenile probation officer's or chief administrative officer's certification on inactive status. A person may not perform the duties of a juvenile probation officer, including those duties listed under §341.68 of this title, while on inactive status.

(c)

Transfer of Certification. When a person with an inactive certification obtains employment as a juvenile probation officer, supervisor of juvenile probation officer's or a chief administrative officer, the juvenile board, the chief administrative officer or either's designee may request a transfer of certification to active status. The request for certification transfer shall be in writing and shall include a verification that a criminal history check was conducted in accordance with §341.40 (a) and (c) and returned within the 60 days prior to submitting the transfer request. If the transfer applicant currently resides outside of Texas, then the criminal history verification shall also include verification that a criminal history background check was conducted in accordance with §341.40(b) and returned within 60 days prior to submitting the certification application. A copy of the criminal history check shall be retained in the juvenile probation department's records.

(d)

Expiration of Certification while on Inactive Status. If a juvenile probation officer's or chief administrative officer's certification expires while on inactive status, the officer will not be eligible for transfer of certification. A juvenile probation officer, supervisor of juvenile probation officers or chief administrative officer whose certification expires while on inactive status may apply for certification after obtaining employment with a juvenile probation department and meeting the eligibility requirements listed under §341.50.

(e)

Transfer of Training Records. The chief administrative officer, or juvenile board shall forward a certified juvenile probation officer's, a supervisor of juvenile probation officer's or chief administrative officer's training records, upon a request from the chief administrative officer or juvenile board in the county where the certified juvenile probation officer's certification was transferred.

§341.52.Expiration of Certification While under Certification Suspension Order.

(a)

An individual whose certification expires while under a certification suspension order issued under §341.88(d)(2) of this title may apply certification once the suspension period has expired and the individual meets the certification eligibility requirements listed under §341.49(a).

(b)

An individual whose certification expires while under a certification suspension order issued under §341.109(a) of this title may apply for certification once TJPC has received an order issued under Texas Family Code Section 232.013, which either vacates or stays the suspension order and the individual meets the certification eligibility requirements listed under §341.49(a).

§341.53.Applicability.

Except for §341.50(a)(4) of this title this subchapter applies to all certification and re-certifications received on or after the effective date of this subchapter. Any felony conviction or deferred prosecution occurring before the effective date of this subchapter will not disqualify a juvenile probation officer who held an active certification on the subchapter's effective date from receiving a recertification under this subchapter. Section 341.50(a)(4) of this title does not become effective until September 1, 2002.

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 April 23, 2001.

TRD-200102358

Lisa Capers

Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel

Texas Juvenile Probation Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 10, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6710


Subchapter G. TRAINING OF JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICERS

37 TAC §§341.58 - 341.62

The new sections are proposed under §141.042 of the Texas Human Resource Code, which provides the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission with the authority to adopt reasonable rules which provide minimum standards for juvenile boards.

No other code or article is affected by these new sections.

§341.58.Training Hours.

In accordance with §341.60 and §341.61, all training intended to count toward certification and recertification requirements shall be approved by Commission staff. TJPC reserves the right to refuse to grant approval for training hours that do not comply with the guidelines under this subchapter. No more than 40 training hours in one topic may count toward certification or recertification. No more than 15 hours of video training may count toward certification requirements. No more than 30 hours of video training may count toward recertification requirements.

§341.59.Training Hours for Trainers.

An individual who provides approved juvenile probation officer training under §341.58 of this title may claim up to 20 hours training credit for each hour of course development. A trainer may only claim course development one time per course topic per certification or recertification period. It is not a requirement under this section that the individual claiming training hours be employed by a juvenile probation department as a trainer.

§341.60.Certification Training.

A person applying for certification as a juvenile probation officer, a supervisor of juvenile probation officers, or a chief administrative officer shall have completed 40 hours of certification training within the first 18 months from the person's date of hire with a juvenile probation department. Certification Training shall include but not be limited to the following subjects:

(1)

role of the juvenile probation officer;

(2)

case planning and management;

(3)

officer safety;

(4)

transportation;

(5)

juvenile law;

(6)

courtroom proceedings and presentation;

(7)

law enforcement processing;

(8)

local programs and services including access procedures;

(9)

interagency collaborations and memoranda of understanding;

(10)

code of ethics, disciplinary and revocation hearing procedures.

§341.61.Recertification Training.

(a)

Juvenile Probation Officers and Supervisors of Juvenile Probation Officers. A certified juvenile probation officer or supervisor of juvenile probation officers, shall receive 80 hours of recertification training every two years.

(b)

Chief Administrative Officers shall receive 80 hours of recertification training every two years. Twenty of the 80 recertification hours shall be in management and supervisory skills.

(c)

Nature of Training. Recertification training shall be related to job responsibilities or the field of juvenile justice. A three-hour graduate course in any approved field of study listed in §341.38(b) of this title shall count as 40 hours of recertification training.

(d)

Training hours provided in addition to the initial 40 hours required for certification shall be counted towards the initial recertification training requirements if the certification application is complete and all deficiencies are corrected within 60 days of the date the application is first received by the Commission. In the event the Commission does not notify the juvenile probation department about a deficiency in a certification application within 30 days from the date the Commission received the application, the Commission shall give the juvenile probation department an additional 30 days from the date the department was notified by the Commission to correct any deficiency.

§341.62.Applicability.

This subchapter applies to all training hours accrued on or after the effective date of this subchapter. The twenty hours of management and supervisory skills training required under §341.61(b) is not applicable until September 1, 2002.

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 April 23, 2001.

TRD-200102359

Lisa Capers

Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel

Texas Juvenile Probation Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 10, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6710


Subchapter H. DUTIES OF CERTIFIED JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICERS

37 TAC §341.68

The new section is proposed under §141.042 of the Texas Human Resource Code, which provides the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission with the authority to adopt reasonable rules which provide minimum standards for juvenile boards.

No other code or article is affected by this new section.

§341.68.Duties of Certified Juvenile Probation Officers.

In addition to any duties, responsibilities or powers granted by Title III of the Texas Family Code, the following duties and responsibilities shall be performed by only certified juvenile probation officers:

(1)

representation of the juvenile probation department in all formal court proceedings;

(2)

final approval of written social history reports;

(3)

acting as the primary supervising officer for all court ordered and deferred prosecution cases;

(4)

writing and administering case plans in accordance with the Commission's Case Management Standards;

(5)

completing any assessment instrument required to be completed by law or Commission standards; and

(6)

if authorized by the juvenile court under Texas Family Code Section 53.02, conducting intake interviews, investigations, and making release decisions.

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 April 23, 2001.

TRD-200102360

Lisa Capers

Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel

Texas Juvenile Probation Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 10, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6710


Subchapter I. JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICER CODE OF ETHICS

37 TAC §341.75

The new section is proposed under §141.042 of the Texas Human Resource Code, which provides the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission with the authority to adopt reasonable rules which provide minimum standards for juvenile boards.

No other code or article is affected by this new section.

§341.75.Code of Ethics.

The people of Texas expect of juvenile probation officers, supervisors of juvenile probation officers, and chief administrative officers unfailing honesty, respect for the dignity and individuality of human beings, and a commitment to professional and compassionate service. To this end the Commission subscribes to the following principles.

(1)

Juvenile Probation Officers shall:

(A)

respect the authority and follow the directives of the court, recognizing at all times that they are an extension of the court;

(B)

respect and protect the civil and legal rights of all children and their parents;

(C)

serve each case with concern for the child's welfare and with no purpose of personal gain;

(D)

encourage relationships with colleagues of such character to promote mutual respect within the profession and improvement of its quality of service;

(E)

respect the significance of all elements of the justice and human services systems and cultivate a professional cooperation with each segment;

(F)

respect and consider the right of the public to be safeguarded from juvenile delinquency;

(G)

be diligent in their responsibility to record and make available for review any and all case information which could contribute to sound decisions affecting a client or the public safety;

(H)

report without reservation any corrupt or unethical behavior which could affect either a child or the integrity of the department;

(I)

maintain the integrity of private information and not seek personal data beyond that needed to perform their responsibilities, nor reveal case information to anyone not having proper professional use for such;

(J)

respect, serve and empathize with the victims of law violations allegedly committed by children;

(K)

abide by all federal, state, and local laws and Commission standards.

(2)

Juvenile Probation Officers shall not:

(A)

use their official position to secure privileges or advantages; make statements critical of colleagues or their departments unless these are verifiable and constructive in purpose;

(B)

permit personal interest to impair in the least degree the objectivity which is to be maintained in their official capacity;

(C)

use their official position to promote any partisan political purpose;

(D)

accept any gift or favor of a nature to imply an obligation that is inconsistent with the free and objective exercise of professional responsibilities;

(E)

make appointments, promotions or dismissals in furtherance of partisan political interests;

(F)

maintain an inappropriate relationship with juveniles assigned to their caseload, supervised by the juvenile probation department, or coming under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. An inappropriate relationship can include but is not limited to: bribery, solicitation or acceptance of gifts, favors, or services from juveniles or their families, and the appearance of an inappropriate relationship;

(G)

not discriminate against any employee, prospective employee, child, child care provider, or parent on the basis of age, race, sex, creed, disability, or national origin.

(H)

be designated as a perpetrator in a TJPC child abuse and neglect investigation conducted under the authority of Texas Family Code Chapter 261, and Title 37 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 349 .

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 April 23, 2001.

TRD-200102361

Lisa Capers

Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel

Texas Juvenile Probation Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 10, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6710


Subchapter J. ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES--CODE OF ETHICS

37 TAC §§341.82 - 341.92

The new sections are proposed under §141.042 of the Texas Human Resource Code, which provides the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission with the authority to adopt reasonable rules which provide minimum standards for juvenile boards.

No other code or article is affected by these new sections.

§341.82.Request for Disciplinary Hearing.

Unless the standards in Subchapter K of this chapter (relating to Mandatory Certification Revocation or Mandatory Certification Suspension) apply, the chief administrative officer or juvenile board may forward a copy of an internal investigation based on a code of ethics violation to the Commission. The internal investigation shall serve as a request for a disciplinary hearing. If the chief administrative officer makes the request for a disciplinary hearing, the chief administrative officer shall in writing notify the juvenile board of the request simultaneous with the request's submission to the Commission.

§341.83.Notifications Made to the Commission.

In the event the Commission or Commission staff receive notice from an individual or entity other than the chief administrative officer or juvenile board that a certified juvenile probation officer, or the chief administrative officer has violated the code of ethics, Commission staff shall notify in writing the chief administrative officer and the local juvenile board. Upon receipt of notification from the Commission, the chief administrative officer, or the juvenile board may conduct an internal investigation and may make a request for a disciplinary hearing in accordance with §341.82 of this title.

§341.84.Effect of Request for Disciplinary Hearing .

When the Commission receives a request for disciplinary hearing under §341.82 of this title, the Commission shall give the officer alleged to have committed an ethics violation written notice and an opportunity for a hearing conducted by the Commission in accordance with the procedures set out below.

§341.85.Procedure for Hearings.

Hearings under this section shall be conducted pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, Texas Government Code Annotated, Chapter 2001. The Commission shall have the power to take depositions, administer oaths or affirmations, examine witnesses, receive evidence, conduct hearings and issue subpoenas or summons. Nothing in this subchapter precludes the Commission from making an informal disposition, including entering into an agreed order, as provided by the Administrative Procedure Act, Texas Government Code Annotated, Chapter 2001.

§341.86.Notice.

(a)

The Commission shall provide a minimum of 10 days notice to the certified juvenile probation officer or chief administrative officer subject to a disciplinary hearing. Notice shall be sent by certified mail return receipt requested.

(b)

The notice shall include:

(1)

a statement of the time, place, and nature of the hearing;

(2)

a statement of the legal authority and jurisdiction under which the hearing is to be held;

(3)

a reference to the particular sections of the statutes and rules involved; and

(4)

a short plain statement of the matters asserted.

§341.87.Right to Counsel.

An individual subject to a disciplinary hearing under this subchapter is entitled to the assistance of counsel during the revocation hearing. The officer may expressly waive the right to the assistance of counsel. The officer may also be represented by a designated person. Written notice at least five days in advance of the hearing shall be given by each party intending to be represented, including the name of the representative. Failure to give such notice may result in postponement of the hearing.

§341.88.Disciplinary Hearing.

(a)

The juvenile probation officer, chief administrative officer or his/her representative, shall be given the opportunity to show compliance with the code of ethics and all requirements of the law, including Commission standards.

(b)

The hearing shall be conducted in executive session with only the members of the Commission, Commission staff, the officer, the chief administrative officer, their representatives and such witnesses as may be called in attendance, unless the officer requests that it be open. Witnesses may be excluded from the hearing until is it their turn to present evidence.

(c)

The conduct of the hearing shall be under the Commission chairman's control, and in general, shall be conducted in accordance with the following steps:

(1)

The hearing shall begin with the presentation of investigatory findings by the designated Commission staff, supported by such proof as is deemed necessary.

(2)

The officer may cross-examine any witnesses for the Commission;

(3)

The officer may then present such testimonial or documentary proof as desired in rebuttal or in support of the contention that the code of ethics has not bee violated;

(4)

The designated Commission staff may cross-examine any witnesses for the officer and offer rebuttal testimony of the officer's witnesses;

(5)

Each party may make closing arguments;

(6)

The hearing shall be recorded and transcribed by means including but not limited to a stenographic record of the proceedings.

(d)

Ruling by the Commission. The Commission may consider only such evidence as is presented at the hearing, if the Commission determines that the evidence presented is insufficient, the Commission may ask for additional information from the officer or chief administrative officer, or Commission staff and may ask questions on their own motion. After all the evidence has been presented, the Commission must determine whether the allegation against the officer is supported by substantial evidence. Based on the Commission's ruling the Commission may assign one of the following dispositions:

(1)

Reprimand. The Commission may issue a written reprimand of the juvenile probation officer, supervisor of juvenile probation officers, or chief administrative officer.

(2)

Suspension. The Commission may suspend the certification of a juvenile probation officer, supervisor of juvenile probation officers, or chief administrative officer for a specified period not to exceed 24 months.

(3)

Revocation. The Commission may permanently revoke the certification of the juvenile probation officer, supervisor of juvenile probation officers, or chief administrative officer.

(e)

Notice of Disposition. The Commission shall notify an individual whose conduct was the subject of a disciplinary hearing. The Commission may notify the individual either in person or in by certified mail return receipt requested. The notice of disposition shall include:

(1)

which acts or omissions by the officer, if any violated the code of ethics;

(2)

a statement of the evidence relied upon;

(3)

a statement of which section or sections of the code of ethics, if any, were violated by the acts or omissions of the officer;

(4)

the commission's dispositional ruling concerning the officer's certification; and

(5)

the officer's right to rehearing and appeal.

§341.89.Motion for Rehearing.

An individual wishing to appeal the Commission's ruling may file a motion for rehearing with the Commission no later than the 20th day after receiving notice of the revocation. The Commission shall rule on the Motion for Rehearing no later than the 45th day after receiving the motion.

§341.90.Judicial Review.

A person whose certification has been revoked and whose motion for rehearing has been denied by the Commission is entitled to judicial review of the Commission's Action.

§341.91.Record.

The Commission shall create a record for each hearing conducted. The record shall include:

(1)

the request for disciplinary hearing received under §341.82 of this title;

(2)

the transcript of the hearing, which may take the form of the minutes of the Commission meeting;

(3)

any documentary proof submitted during the hearing;

(4)

all staff memoranda and documentation submitted to the Commission in making its decision;

(5)

a copy of the final order issued by the Commission;

(6)

any motions for rehearing;

(7)

the Commission's ruling on any motions for rehearing.

§341.92.Release of Information.

Upon request, the Commission shall release information relating to a disciplinary hearing conducted under this subchapter.

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 April 23, 2001.

TRD-200102362

Lisa Capers

Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel

Texas Juvenile Probation Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 10, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6710


Subchapter K. MANDATORY CERTIFICATION REVOCATION AND MANDATORY CERTIFICATION SUSPENSION

37 TAC §§341.98 - 341.109

The new sections are proposed under §141.042 of the Texas Human Resource Code, which provides the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission with the authority to adopt reasonable rules which provide minimum standards for juvenile boards.

No other code or article is affected by these new sections.

§341.98.Duty to Notify.

(a)

The chief administrative officer, the juvenile board or either's designee shall in writing request a certification revocation from the Commission within 10 working days after obtaining notice that a certified juvenile probation officer, or chief administrative officer has been convicted or given deferred adjudication for any felony based on the laws of this state, the laws of another state or the laws of the United States, or who received a conviction or deferred adjudication that requires registration as a sex offender under Chapter 62, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Notice provided under this section constitutes a request for certification revocation.

(b)

A request for waiver under §341.6 of this title may not be requested for this section unless the certified juvenile probation officer, or chief administrative officer received a pardon based upon proof of innocence.

(c)

Notifications Made to Commission. In the event the Commission, or Commission staff receive notice from an individual or entity other than the Chief administrative officer, juvenile board or their respective designees that a certified juvenile probation officer, or chief administrative officer has been convicted or given deferred adjudication for any felony based on the laws of this state, the laws of another state, or the laws of the United States, or received a conviction or deferred adjudication that requires registration as a sex offender under Chapter 62, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Commission staff shall in writing notify the Chief administrative officer or the juvenile board. Upon receiving notice from Commission staff the Chief administrative officer, or juvenile board shall request certification revocation in accordance with subsection (a) of this section.

(d)

Commission Initiated Revocations. The Commission shall initiate mandatory certification revocation proceedings if the Commission discovers through a Commission monitoring visit or other compliance audit that an individual currently certified by the Commission does not meet the requirements under either §341.49 or §341.50 of this title.

§341.99.Effect of Notification.

Upon receipt of request for certification revocation or a Commission initiated revocation under §341.92 of this title, the Commission shall conduct a hearing for certification revocation at the next regularly scheduled board meeting.

§341.100.Procedure for Certification Revocation Hearings.

Hearings for revocation under this section shall be conducted pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, Texas Government Code Annotated, Chapter 2001. The Commission shall have the power to take depositions, administer oaths or affirmations, examine witnesses, receive evidence, and conduct hearings and issue subpoenas or summons. Nothing in this subchapter precludes the Commission from making an informal disposition, including entering into an agreed order, as provided by the Administrative Procedure Act, Texas Government Code Annotated, Chapter 2001.

§341.101.Notice.

(a)

The Commission shall provide a minimum of 10 days notice to the certified juvenile probation officer or chief administrative officer subject to a revocation hearing. Notice shall be sent by certified mail return receipt requested.

(b)

The notice shall include:

(1)

a statement of the time, place, and nature of the hearing;

(2)

a statement of the legal authority and jurisdiction under which the hearing is to be held;

(3)

a reference to the particular sections of the statutes and rules involved; and

(4)

a short plain statement of the matters asserted.

§341.102.Right to Counsel.

An individual subject to a revocation hearing under this subchapter is entitled to the assistance of counsel during the revocation hearing. The officer may expressly waive the right to the assistance of counsel. The officer may also be represented by a designated person. Written notice at least five days in advance of the hearing shall be given by each party intending to be represented, including the name of the representative. Failure to give such notice may result in postponement of the hearing.

§341.103.Revocation Hearing.

(a)

The juvenile probation officer, chief administrative officer or his/her representative, shall be given the opportunity to show compliance with the code of ethics and all requirements of the law, including Commission standards.

(b)

The hearing shall be conducted in executive session with only the members of the Commission, Commission staff, the officer, the chief administrative officer, their representatives and such witnesses as may be called in attendance, unless the officer requests that it be open. Witnesses may be excluded from the hearing until is it their turn to present evidence.

(c)

The conduct of the hearing shall be under the Commission chairman's control, and in general, shall be conducted in accordance with the following steps:

(1)

The hearing shall begin with the presentation of findings by the designated Commission staff, supported by such proof as is deemed necessary.

(2)

The officer may cross-examine any witnesses for the Commission;

(3)

The officer may then present such testimonial or documentary proof as desired in rebuttal or in support of the contention that the officer has not been convicted or placed on deferred adjudication for a felony, has not been convicted or given deferred adjudication for an offense that requires sex offender registration under Chapter 62, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure or has been pardoned based upon proof of innocence;

(4)

The designated Commission staff may cross-examine any witnesses for the officer and offer rebuttal of the testimony of the officer's witnesses;

(5)

Each party may make closing arguments;

(6)

The hearing shall be recorded and transcribed by means including but not limited to a stenographic record of the proceedings.

(d)

Ruling by the Commission. The Commission may consider only such evidence as is presented at the hearing, if the Commission determines that the evidence presented is insufficient, the Commission may ask for additional information from the officer or chief administrative officer, or Commission staff and may ask questions on their own motion. After all the evidence has been presented, the Commission shall revoke the officer's certification if substantial evidence indicates the officer has been convicted or placed on deferred adjudication for a felony against this state, another state or the United States, or has been convicted or given deferred adjudication for an offense that requires registration as a sex offender under Chapter 62 Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.

(e)

Notice of Disposition. The Commission shall notify an individual whose conduct was the subject of a revocation hearing of the Commission's ruling. The Commission may notify the individual either in person or by certified mail return receipt requested. The notice of disposition shall include:

(1)

the Commission's dispositional ruling

(2)

a statement of the evidence relied upon;

(3)

a statement of which section or sections of the code of ethics, or other Commission standards, if any, were violated by the acts or omissions of the officer; and

(4)

the officer's right to rehearing and appeal.

§341.104.Motion for Rehearing.

An individual wishing to appeal the Commission's disposition may file a motion for rehearing with the Commission no later than the 20th day after receiving notice of the revocation. The Commission shall rule on the Motion for Rehearing no later than the 45th day after receiving the motion.

§341.105.Judicial Review.

An individual whose certification has been revoked and whose motion for rehearing has been denied by the Commission is entitled to judicial review of the Commission's Action.

§341.106.Record.

The Commission staff shall create a record for each revocation hearing conducted. The record shall include:

(1)

the initial notification received under §341.98 of this title;

(2)

the transcript of the revocation meeting which may take the form of the minutes of the Commission meeting;

(3)

any documentary proof submitted during the hearing;

(4)

all staff memoranda and documentation submitted to the Commission in making its decision;

(5)

a copy of the final order issued by the Commission;

(6)

any motions for rehearing; and

(7)

the Commission's ruling on any motions for rehearing.

§341.107.Release of Information.

Upon request, the Commission shall release information relating to a revocation hearing conducted under this subchapter.

§341.108.Applicability.

The mandatory revocation procedures enacted in this subchapter apply to all felony convictions, felony deferred adjudications, or convictions or deferred adjudications that require sex offender registration under Chapter 62 Texas Code of Criminal Procedure that occur on or after the effective date of this subchapter.

§341.109.Mandatory Suspension for Failure to Pay Child Support.

(a)

Upon receipt of an order suspending license for failure to pay child support issued under Texas Family Code §232.008 or §232.009, the Commission shall suspend the juvenile probation officer's, supervisor of juvenile probation officer's or chief administrative officer's certification.

(b)

Notice of Suspension. The Commission shall notify the certified juvenile probation officer, supervisor of juvenile probation officers, or the chief administrative officer subject to a suspension order received under subsection (a) of this section that the agency has formally suspended the individual's certification. The notice shall also instruct the individual that he or she may not perform the duties of a certified juvenile probation officer while the suspension order is in effect. The Commission shall also notify the chief administrative officer and juvenile board of the employing juvenile probation department of the suspension.

(c)

Length of Suspension. A certification suspension shall remain in effect until the Commission receives either an order issued under Texas Family Code Section 232.013 that vacates or stays the certification's suspension.

(d)

An individual subject to a suspension order issued under subsection (a) of this section may not be hired, certified, or recertified while the suspension order remains in effect. A request for waiver under §341.6 of this title may not be requested for the standards in this section.

(e)

An individual subject to a suspension order issued under subsection (a) of this section may not appeal the suspension order to the Commission.

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 April 23, 2001.

TRD-200102363

Lisa Capers

Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel

Texas Juvenile Probation Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 10, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6710


Subchapter L. COMPLAINTS AGAINST JUVENILE BOARDS

37 TAC §341.113, §341.114

The new sections are proposed under §141.042 of the Texas Human Resource Code, which provides the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission with the authority to adopt reasonable rules which provide minimum standards for juvenile boards.

No other code or article is affected by these new sections.

§341.113.Notice of Complaint Procedures.

The Commission staff shall prepare and distribute to each juvenile board with which it contracts a sign describing the procedures for filing a complaint against the juvenile board with the Commission. The juvenile board shall post the sign in a public area of the juvenile probation department and any facility operated by the juvenile board, or operated by a private entity through contract with the juvenile board.

§341.114.Complaint Process.

When Commission staff receives a written, signed complaint about a juvenile board, the Commission's staff shall review the circumstances surrounding the complaint to determine whether the juvenile board has violated the rules or standards of the Commission.

(1)

If the Commission's staff determines the complaint is about the juvenile services within the discretion of the juvenile board, the complaint will be referred to the juvenile board. The complainant shall be notified of the referral in writing by the Commission.

(2)

If the staff determines the juvenile board has violated the Commission's rules or standards, it will inform the juvenile board in writing and give the juvenile board an opportunity to come into compliance. If, within 90 days of the date on which the juvenile board received written notice of the Commission's staff determination, the juvenile board does not propose its own means of achieving compliance which is acceptable to the Commission's staff, the Commission's staff will propose a solution to the board and attempt to negotiate a mutually agreeable solution.

(3)

If the Commission's staff and the juvenile board cannot reach an agreement, the Commission's staff will give the juvenile board written notice of its intent to refuse, reduce, or suspend state aid, under authority of the Texas Human Resources Code, §141.085. The juvenile board shall have 15 days after receipt of the notice to notify the executive director how it will comply with the Commission's staff's solution, or that it appeals the staff decision.

(4)

The juvenile board's appeal must be in writing, and must state specifically its differences of opinion with the Commission's staff concerning the facts in dispute and the solution necessary under the standards or rules of the Commission. The appeal must state whether the juvenile board requests a hearing before the Commission.

(5)

The Commission shall set the appeal on the agenda for its next regularly scheduled meeting. If the juvenile board has requested a hearing, the juvenile board and the Commission's staff may appear and make oral presentations concerning the appeal. If the juvenile board does not request a hearing before the Commission, the Commission will make its decision based upon the record.

(6)

The complainant shall be notified in writing of the progress of the investigation and resolution of the complaint at least quarterly until the complaint is resolved, and shall be notified of the resolution.

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 April 23, 2001.

TRD-200102364

Lisa Capers

Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel

Texas Juvenile Probation Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 10, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6710


Subchapter M. CASE MANAGEMENT STANDARDS

37 TAC §§341.121 - 341.125

The new sections are proposed under §141.042 of the Texas Human Resource Code, which provides the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission with the authority to adopt reasonable rules which provide minimum standards for juvenile boards.

No other code or article is affected by these new sections.

§341.121.Definitions.

The following words or terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1)

Assessment--Assessment is the process by which relevant and valid information is compiled in order to determine the juvenile's needs, risk of offending, strengths, and weaknesses. The assessment process is intended to assist the supervising juvenile probation field officer in developing and implementing an effective case plan, appropriate level of supervision, and utilization of appropriate resources.

(2)

Case Planning--Case planning involves the process of determining the post-adjudication needs of a juvenile. This includes all appropriate and available assessment and intake information, SJS findings, preliminary investigation information, family dynamics, school history, and victim impact statements. A written case plan outlines services to be provided during the juvenile's term of court ordered probation. Case planning also includes the reassessment, reevaluation, and review of the juvenile's risks, needs and initial case plan, in order to make any subsequent changes necessary to best meet the juvenile's status and circumstances over time.

(3)

TJPC Standard Screening Tool--An instrument provided by the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission that assesses the juvenile's needs in the area of mental health.

(4)

Formal Intake Interview--The interview with the juvenile who is the subject of the referral and the juvenile's parent, guardian or custodian wherein the intake officer or juvenile probation officer develops a dispositional recommendation for the juvenile's case. The formal intake interview occurs subsequent to the formal referral.

(5)

Formal Referral--occurs and should be counted when all three of the following conditions exist:

(A)

delinquent conduct, conduct indicating a need for supervision or violation of probation was allegedly committed;

(B)

the juvenile probation department has jurisdiction and venue; and

(C)

either a face-to-face contact occurs with the office or official designated by the juvenile board or written or verbal authorization to detain is given by the office or official designated by the juvenile board.

(6)

Progressive Sanctions Assigned Level--The level of sanctions actually assigned to a juvenile by the juvenile court that corresponds with the progressive sanctions guidelines contained in Chapter 59, Texas Family Code.

(7)

Exit Plan--The exit plan is the written document developed for each juvenile that identifies the juvenile's needs for post-supervision reintegration and specifies the community resources available to meet those needs. The purpose of the exit plan is to facilitate a continuum of community services to the juvenile and the juvenile's family after probation supervision ends.

(8)

Strategies in Juvenile Supervision (SJS)--A case assessment and correctional management process designed to provide a structured method for gathering and organizing information about the juvenile and translating that information into appropriate case management strategies.

(9)

Supervision--Supervision involves the case management of a juvenile by the assigned juvenile probation supervising field officer or designee through contacts (face to face, telephone, office, home, collateral) with the juvenile, juvenile's family, and other case planning participants.

(10)

Title IV-E Standards--Standards promulgated by the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission as detailed in Chapter 347 of this title (relating to Title IV-E Federal Foster Care Program).

§341.122.Assessment.

(a)

TJPC Standard Screening Tool. TJPC standard screening tool, shall be completed for all juveniles who receive a formal referral to the juvenile probation department. If the TJPC standard screening tool has been completed within the previous two weeks and contained in the juvenile's case record, the department is not required to complete an additional screening.

(1)

Time of Screening. The TJPC standard screening tool shall be administered at the formal intake interview.

(2)

Administration of Instrument. The instrument shall be administered by the officer who conducts the formal intake interview.

(3)

Reports to the Commission. The summary scores of all juveniles screened using the TJPC standard screening tool and any other information required by the Commission shall be electronically reported to TJPC on a monthly basis under § 341.134 (CASEWORKER counties), § 341.140 (non-CASEWORKER counties), or through a separate database provided by the Commission.

(b)

SJS. A Strategies in Juvenile Supervision (SJS) worksheet may be completed for all juveniles on court ordered probation. The SJS worksheet should be completed subsequent to the disposition of the juvenile's case and shall be completed prior to the formulation of the written case plan. The juvenile probation supervising field officer should administer the SJS worksheet.

§341.123.Case Planning and Review.

(a)

Case Plan. A written case plan shall be developed and implemented for juveniles assigned to Progressive Sanctions levels three through five. The written case plan shall be developed with all appropriate and available parties present and participating including, but not limited to, the juvenile, any parent, guardian, or custodian of the child and the supervising juvenile probation field officer. Written case plans for juveniles assigned to Progressive Sanctions levels three through five shall be developed within 60 calendar days of the disposition. The original case plan shall be maintained in the juvenile's case file. Copies of the written case plan shall be provided to the juvenile and the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian.

(b)

Case Review. It is recommended that written case plans be reviewed every 90 days after implementation of the initial case plan or at any time when significant changes take place in the juvenile's situation. The juvenile and at least one parent, guardian or custodian shall be present for the case review. The written case plan shall be revised to address any changes in risks and needs identified during the review process. Upon acceptance a juvenile's case from other county for courtesy supervision, a review of the current written case plan shall be conducted by the receiving county in accordance with this section. All original revised case plans shall be maintained in the juvenile's case file. Copies of the revised written case plan shall be provided to the juvenile and the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian. This does not apply to Title IV-E cases, which shall comply with Title IV-E standards. The case review, with appropriate documentation in the case file, shall discuss and consider the following:

(1)

Appropriateness of the juvenile's current level of supervision and services;

(2)

Extent of compliance with the individualized case plan;

(3)

Extent of compliance with the conditions of probation;

(4)

Extent of progress made with the juvenile and family toward solving or reducing the factors that necessitated the juvenile's placement on probation;

(5)

A projection of a likely date by which the juvenile may be ready for court-ordered release from probation supervision; and

(6)

Services accessed, offered or provided to the juvenile and family to address risks and needs identified on the TJPC standard assessment tool or equivalent assessment tool.

§341.124.Supervision.

The level of supervision provided to a juvenile by the probation department shall be defined by the results of the SJS (where applicable), and the juvenile's written case plan. A minimum of one face to face contact per month with the juvenile is mandatory unless otherwise noted in the case plan.

§341.125.Exit Plan.

An exit plan is to be provided following the completion of a juvenile's probation period, unless the juvenile was committed to the Texas Youth Commission. A written exit plan shall be developed prior to the juvenile's scheduled release from probation. The written exit plan shall be formulated by all involved and available parties. The original exit plan shall be placed in the juvenile's case file. Copies of the exit plan shall be provided to the juvenile and the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian. The exit plan shall include a copy of the notification given to the juveniles regarding sealing rights as required by the Texas Family Code §58.003(i).

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 April 23, 2001.

TRD-200102365

Lisa Capers

Deputy Executive Director & General Counsel

Texas Juvenile Probation Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 10, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6710


Subchapter N. DATA COLLECTION STANDARDS

1. CASEWORKER SYSTEMS

37 TAC §§341.132 - 341.137

The new sections are proposed under §141.042 of the Texas Human Resource Code, which provides the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission with the authority to adopt reasonable rules which provide minimum standards for juvenile boards.

No other code or article is affected by these new sections.

§341.132.Definitions.

The following words or terms, when used during Part I of this subchapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1)

CASEWORKER--A personal computer-based tracking and case management system, developed and supported by the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission (TJPC), that provides juvenile probation officers a systematic method to track and manage juvenile offender caseloads.

(2)

Data Coordinator--A person employed by a juvenile probation department who is designated by the juvenile board to serve and function as the primary contact with TJPC on all matters relating to data collection and reporting.

(3)

TJPC Monthly Folder Extract--An automated process to extract and submit modified case records from the department's CASEWORKER system to TJPC. The extract created by CASEWORKER follows in accordance with the Electronic Data Interchange Specifications.

(4)

Comprehensive Folder Edit--A report generated in CASEWORKER that performs an extensive edit of the folder information. This report identifies incorrectly entered data, unrecoverable files, and questionable data that impact the accuracy of the reports and programs.

(5)

Annual Resource Survey--A manual report designed to gather supplemental data in relation to juvenile activity and the services and/or programs that are available within the department or community. This report also captures each department's staff size, salary range and caseload.

(6)

Electronic Data Interchange Specifications--document developed by TJPC outlining the data fields and file structures that each department is required to follow in submitting the TJPC monthly folder extract. The Electronic Data Interchange Specifications are published in Subchapter O, §341.150 of this title.

§341.133.Data Coordinator.

(a)

Designation. Each juvenile board shall designate an employee of the juvenile probation department to serve as data coordinator to function as the primary contact with TJPC on all matters relating to data collection, reporting and the CASEWORKER system. If the designation of the data coordinator is changed by the juvenile board, TJPC shall be notified in writing within ten working days.

(b)

Training Requirements. The data coordinator shall have a thorough understanding of TJPC reporting requirements and shall be trained on CASEWORKER by TJPC. Within 90 days from date of a new designation as data coordinator, the new data coordinator shall attend CASEWORKER training provided by TJPC.

(c)

Duties. The data coordinator is responsible for ensuring that all data submitted to TJPC by the local juvenile probation department is accurate, timely, and consistent with TJPC reporting requirements. The data coordinator shall ensure that the TJPC Monthly Folder Extract is received on or by the applicable due date.

§341.134.TJPC Monthly Folder Extract.

The TJPC Monthly Folder Extract shall be sent to TJPC via the Internet. The extract is due to TJPC on the tenth day of each month following the reporting period (example: extract of February data is due to TJPC on March 10).

§341.135.Other Reports.

(a)

Annual Resource Survey. All juvenile probation departments are required to complete the Annual Resource Survey. The report must be completed in the format provided by TJPC and shall be submitted by January 31 of the following year for which the resource survey pertains.

(b)

Special Requests. Information from juvenile probation departments is periodically requested by TJPC. Departments shall comply with these requests, whether on paper or electronically by e-mail or the Internet, in the format specified by TJPC.

§341.136.Accuracy of Data.

(a)

Required Fields. The probation department shall fill in all applicable data fields for each referral in their CASEWORKER system to minimize missing information.

(b)

Comprehensive Folder Edit. Probation departments shall run the Comprehensive Folder Edit on a monthly basis.

(c)

Errors. Errors detected by the Comprehensive Folder Edit, the annual TJPC monitoring visit, or the TJPC Research and Planning Division upon analysis shall be corrected prior to the next submission of the TJPC Monthly Folder Extract.

§341.137.Security of Data.

(a)

Passwords. Passwords shall be assigned by the CASEWORKER administrator or management information systems administrator for each individual user and should not be shared by employees or other persons. Each department shall have a limited number of employees that are authorized to delete information contained within CASEWORKER. Access to the department's CASEWORKER system shall be removed concurrent with the termination of the person's employment.

(b)

Backup and Restoration. All juvenile probation departments shall adopt and follow a written policy for the backup and restoration procedures relating to data, requiring, at a minimum, a system backup once per week. Departments must maintain at least five generations (copies) of data backups.

(c)

Off-Site Storage. All juvenile probation departments shall store a system backup off-site to be accessible in case of a disaster at the department (fire, tornado, etc). An updated backup for off-site storage must be run at a minimum of once a month, in addition to the five generations of backup.

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 April 23, 2001.

TRD-200102366

Lisa Capers

Deputy Executive Director & General Counsel

Texas Juvenile Probation Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 10, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6710


2. NON-CASEWORKER SYSTEMS

37 TAC §§341.138 - 341.143

The new sections are proposed under §141.042 of the Texas Human Resource Code, which provides the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission with the authority to adopt reasonable rules which provide minimum standards for juvenile boards.

No other code or article is affected by these new sections.

§341.138.Definitions.

The following words or terms, when used in Division II of this subchapter, shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1)

Data Coordinator--A person employed by a juvenile probation department who is designated by the juvenile board to serve and function as the primary contact with TJPC on all matters relating to data collection and reporting.

(2)

TJPC Monthly Folder Extract--An automated process to gather data relating to all case files in the case management system designed to analyze crime and juvenile trends, program success, and profiling of juvenile offenders. The extract shall be submitted in the format specified by the TJPC Electronic Data Specifications.

(3)

Electronic Data Interchange Specifications--document developed by TJPC outlining the data fields and file structures that each department is required to follow in submitting the TJPC Monthly folder extract. The Electronic Data Interchange Specifications are published in Subchapter O, §341.150 of this title.

(4)

Annual Resource Survey--A manual report designed to gather supplemental data in relation to juvenile activity and the services and/or programs that are available within the department or community. This report also captures the department's staff size, salary range and caseload.

§341.139.Data Coordinator.

(a)

Designation. Each juvenile board shall designate an employee of the juvenile probation department to serve as data coordinator to function as the primary contact with TJPC on all matters relating to data collection and reporting. If the designation of the data coordinator is changed by the juvenile board, TJPC shall be notified in writing within ten working days.

(b)

Training Requirements. The data coordinator shall attend training, as required and deemed necessary by TJPC, relating to updates on statistical and research-based information and requirements.

(c)

Duties. The data coordinator is responsible for ensuring that the data submitted to TJPC by the local juvenile probation department is accurate, timely, and consistent with TJPC reporting requirements. The data coordinator shall ensure that the TJPC Monthly Folder Extract is received on or by the applicable due date.

§341.140.TJPC Monthly Folder Extract.

The TJPC Monthly Folder Extract data shall be sent to TJPC via the internet and shall include all data fields required by the TJPC Electronic Data Interchange Specifications. The extract is due to TJPC on the tenth day of each month following the reporting period (example: extract of February data is due to TJPC on March 10).

§341.141.Other Report.

(a)

Annual Resource Survey. All juvenile probation departments are required to complete the Annual Resource Survey. The report must be completed in the format provided by TJPC and shall be submitted by January 31 of the following year for which the resource survey pertains.

(b)

Special Requests. Information from juvenile probation departments is periodically requested by TJPC. Departments shall comply with these requests, whether on paper or electronically by e-mail or the Internet, in the format specified by TJPC.

§341.142.Accuracy of Data.

(a)

Required Fields. Departments shall fill in all applicable fields as specified in the CASEWORKER Extract File Layout. If TJPC requires additional fields, each department shall update their case management system to include such information.

(b)

Maintaining Accuracy. Each department shall have a written policy and procedure to maintain accuracy of data submitted and methods of correcting errors. Each department shall report data elements that are consistent with TJPC definitions.

(c)

Errors. Errors detected by the department during daily operation, or by TJPC during the annual monitoring visit or by the TJPC Research and Planning Division analysis shall be corrected prior to the next submission of the TJPC Monthly Folder Extract.

§341.143.Security of Data.

(a)

Passwords. Department users shall be required to obtain a password to their case management system. Each department shall have a written policy and procedure to ensure secured access and to limit the number of employees that have access to delete information from the case management system. Access to the department case management system shall be terminated for people no longer employed by the department.

(b)

Backup and Restoration. All juvenile probation departments shall adopt and follow a written policy.

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 April 23, 2001.

TRD-200102367

Lisa Capers

Deputy Executive Director & General Counsel

Texas Juvenile Probation Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 10, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6710


Subchapter O. ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE SPECIFICATIONS

37 TAC §341.150

The new section is proposed under §141.042 of the Texas Human Resource Code, which provides the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission with the authority to adopt reasonable rules which provide minimum standards for juvenile boards.

No other code or article is affected by this new section.

§341.150.TJPC Monthly Folder Extract.

The TJPC Monthly Folder Extract data shall include all data fields required by TJPC Electronic Data Interchange Specifications found in the figure below.

Figure 1: 37 TAC §341.150

Figure 2: 37 TAC §341.150

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 April 23, 2001.

TRD-200102368

Lisa Capers

Deputy Executive Director & General Counsel

Texas Juvenile Probation Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 10, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6710


Subchapter P. TEXAS JUVENILE PROBATION COMMISSION

37 TAC §341.157, §347.158

The new sections are proposed under §141.042 of the Texas Human Resource Code, which provides the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission with the authority to adopt reasonable rules which provide minimum standards for juvenile boards.

No other code or article is affected by these new sections.

§341.157.Memoranda of Understanding--Coordinated Services for Multiproblem Children and Youth.

(a)

The Texas Juvenile Probation Commission adopts by reference a joint memorandum of understanding with the Texas Commission for the Blind, Texas Department of Health, Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Texas Education Agency, Texas Rehabilitation Commission, and the Texas Youth Commission concerning coordinated services for multiproblem children and youth which provides for the implementation of a system of community resource coordination groups.

(b)

The memorandum of understanding was published in the November 15, 1988, issue of the Texas Register (13 TexReg 5727) by the Texas Department of Human Services, 40 TAC §72.701. Copies of the memorandum of understanding are available from the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission.

§341.158.Memoranda of Understanding--Service Delivery to Dysfunctional Families

(a)

The Texas Juvenile Probation Commission adopts by reference a joint memorandum of understanding with the Texas Department of Human Services and the Texas Youth Commission regarding service delivery to dysfunctional families.

(b)

The memorandum of understanding was published in the Texas Register by the Texas Department of Human Services on October 29, 1991 (16 TexReg 6126). Copies of the memorandum of understanding are available from the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission.

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 April 23, 2001.

TRD-200102369

Lisa Capers

Deputy Executive Director & General Counsel

Texas Juvenile Probation Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 10, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6710


Part 12. TEXAS MILITARY FACILITIES COMMISSION

Chapter 375. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION

37 TAC §375.11

(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 Military Facilities Commission or in the Texas Register office, Room 245, James Earl Rudder Building, 1019 Brazos Street, Austin.)

The Texas Military Facilities Commission (Commission) proposes the repeal of Texas Administrative Code, Title 37, Part 12, §375.11, relating to Uniform General Conditions.

The repeal is proposed because the Commission, a public authority, is exempt from the General Services Commission (GSC) Uniform General Conditions.

Lydia Cruz, Director of Accounting and Administration, has determined that for each year of the first five years that the repeal will be in effect there will be no fiscal implications to the state or to local governments as a result of the repeal. No cost to either government or the public will result from the repeal. There will be no impact on small businesses or microbusinesses. No economic cost is anticipated to persons as a result of the repeal.

Ms. Cruz has also determined that for each year of the first five years the repeal is in effect the public benefit anticipated as result of the repeal will be the avoidance of any confusion that the Commission is subject to the GSC Uniform General Conditions. No economic costs are anticipated to persons who are required to comply with the proposed repeal.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Tina Burford, Texas Military Facilities Commission, P.O. Box 5426, Austin, Texas 78763-5426, or by e-mail to Tina.Burford@mail.capnet.state.tx.us for 30 days after notice of the proposed repeal is published in the Texas Register .

The repeal is proposed pursuant to Government Code, §435.011, which provides the Commission with authority to promulgate rules.

The following sections of the Government Code are affected by the proposed repeal: §§435.015 and 2166.004.

§375.11.State of Texas Uniform General Conditions (UGC).

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 April 30, 2001.

TRD-200102434

Jerry D. Malcolm

Executive Director

Texas Military Facilities Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 10, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 406-6907


Chapter 379. ADMINISTRATIVE RULES

37 TAC §379.40

The Texas Military Facilities Commission proposes new §379.40, relating to Commission Vehicle Use. The rule is proposed to comply with Government Code, §2171.1045, which requires state agencies to adopt rules relating to the assignment and use of the agency's vehicles. The rules are consistent with the General Services Commission's State Vehicle Fleet Management Plan and specifically address the requirements that: (1) vehicles are assigned to the agency's motor pool and may be available for checkout; and (2) the agency may assign a vehicle to an individual administrative or executive employee on a regular or everyday basis only if there is a documented finding that the assignment is critical to the needs and mission of the agency.

Lydia Cruz, Director of Accounting and Administration, Texas Military Facilities Commission, has determined that for the first five-year period the rule is in effect there will be no fiscal implications for the state government as a result of enforcing or administering the rule.

Ms. Cruz also has determined that the public benefit anticipated as a result of the rule as proposed will be the adoption of provisions that conform to the Office of Fleet Vehicle Management's State Vehicle Fleet management Plan. There will be no effect on small businesses. There are no anticipated costs to persons who are required to comply with the rule as proposed.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to John Besser, Texas Military Facilities Commission, P.O. Box 5426, Austin, Texas 78763-5426, or by e-mail to john.besser@mail.capnet.state.tx.us, or by fax (512) 406-6958. Comments must be received by the Commission no later than 30 days from the date this proposal is published in the Texas Register .

The new section is proposed under the Government Code, §435.011, which provides the Texas Military Facilities Commission with the authority to promulgate rules as well as Texas Government Code, §2171.1045.

The proposal affects no other sections.

§379.40.Assignment of Commission Vehicles.

(a)

Each vehicle, with the exception of vehicles assigned to field employees, shall be assigned to the agency motor pool and may be available for checkout.

(b)

The Agency may assign a vehicle to an individual administrative or executive employee on a regular or everyday basis only if the Agency makes a written documented finding that the assignment is critical to the needs and mission of the Agency.

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 April 24, 2001.

TRD-200102375

Jerry D. Malcolm

Executive Director

Texas Military Facilities Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 10, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 406-6971