Sec. 264.2044. GRANTS FOR FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS. (a) Using available funds or private donations, the governor shall establish and administer an innovation grant program to award grants to support faith-based community programs that collaborate with the department and the commission to improve foster care and the placement of children in foster care.

(b) A faith-based community program is eligible for a grant under this section if:

(1) the effectiveness of the program is supported by empirical evidence; and

(2) the program has demonstrated the ability to build connections between faith-based, secular, and government stakeholders.

(c) The regional director for the department in the region where a grant recipient program is located, or the regional director's designee, shall serve as the liaison between the department and the program for collaborative purposes. For a program that operates in a larger region, the department may designate a liaison in each county where the program is operating. The department or the commission may not direct or manage the operation of the program.

(d) The initial duration of a grant under this section is two years. The governor may renew a grant awarded to a program under this section if funds are available and the governor determines that the program is successful.

(e) The governor may not award to a program grants under this section totaling more than $300,000.

(f) The governor shall adopt rules to implement the grant program created under this section.

Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 319 (S.B. 11), Sec. 19(a), eff. September 1, 2017.

Redesignated from Family Code, Section 264.2042 by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 467 (H.B. 4170), Sec. 21.001(18), eff. September 1, 2019.