| (a) Establishment. The Public Private Partnership (PPP)
is established.
(b) Purpose. The purpose of the PPP is to explore,
study, and recommend innovative and creative practices that affect
the Texas Foster Care system. The PPP provides recommendations to
the Department regarding Foster Care Redesign and its implementation.
(c) Tasks. The PPP performs the following tasks:
(1) makes recommendations to the Department through
regularly scheduled meetings and Department staff assigned to the
committee; and
(2) performs other tasks consistent with the committee's
purpose that are requested by the Commissioner.
(d) Reporting requirements and Department action.
(1) The PPP reports recommendations to the Department
at least annually.
(2) PPP recommendations may inform Department policy
or practice.
(3) PPP recommendations are advisory and do not obligate
the Department to take action.
(e) Membership.
(1) The PPP consists of no more than 24 members.
(2) Members are appointed by the Commissioner.
(3) Membership requirements.
(A) Members must have demonstrated a commitment to
the children, youth, and families of Texas and have knowledge and
experience with the Texas foster care system.
(B) Members must be willing to devote the time necessary
to attend and participate in meetings.
(C) In choosing PPP members, the Commissioner considers
how the diverse ethnic, gender, and geographic communities in Texas
are represented on the committee, including diverse sizes and types
of providers.
(4) Membership includes:
(A) providers and provider associations in good standing
with the Department;
(B) youth who were formerly in foster care;
(C) members of the judiciary;
(D) child welfare advocacy groups;
(E) parents; and
(F) other child welfare stakeholders, as determined
by the Commissioner.
(5) Except as may be necessary to stagger terms, a
committee member serves for a two-year term and may be appointed for
additional terms at the discretion of the Commissioner.
(6) Members who represent a particular group are automatically
removed from the committee when they are no longer members of the
group in subsection (e)(1)(C) of this section whom they were appointed
to represent, and may be replaced by another member of that same group
by Commissioner appointment.
(7) Members who fail to attend three consecutive meetings
without an excused absence by the presiding officer as reflected in
the minutes are removed from the committee without further action,
and the Commissioner appoints a replacement.
(f) Presiding officers. The presiding officer may not
currently be an employee of or be actively seeking a contract as a
Single Source Continuum Contractor (SSCC).
(g) Meetings. The PPP meets at least quarterly or as
called by the presiding officer.
(h) Decision-making. The committee makes recommendations
by consensus, with dissenting opinions noted.
(i) Bylaws. The committee will adopt bylaws to further
govern committee practices, such as attendance requirements, meeting
notices, workgroups and subcommittees, and conflicts of interest.
(j) Abolition. The PPP is abolished, and this section
expires, August 31, 2026.
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