Sec. 203.017. REGIONALIZATION PLAN. (a) The department shall develop and the board shall adopt a regionalization plan for keeping children closer to home in lieu of commitment to the secure facilities operated by the department under Subtitle C.

(b) The department shall consult with juvenile probation departments in developing a regionalization plan, including the identification of:

(1) post-adjudication facility capacity that may be dedicated to support the plan; and

(2) resources needed to implement the plan.

(c) The regionalization plan must define regions of the state to be served by facilities operated by juvenile probation departments, counties, halfway houses, or private operators, based on the post-adjudication facilities identified as being available for the purpose of the plan.

(d) The department shall ensure that each region has defined, appropriate, research-based programs for the target populations under the regionalization plan.

(e) The regionalization plan must:

(1) include a budget review, redirection of staff, and funding mechanisms necessary to support the plan;

(2) create a new division of the department responsible for administering the regionalization plan and monitoring program quality and accountability;

(3) include sufficient mechanisms to divert at least:

(A) 30 juveniles from commitment to secure facilities operated by the department for the state fiscal year beginning September 1, 2015; and

(B) 150 juveniles from commitment to secure facilities operated by the department for the state fiscal year beginning September 1, 2016; and

(4) for the state fiscal year beginning September 1, 2017, and each subsequent state fiscal year, include any savings that are generated by the decreases in the population of the secure facilities operated by the department under Subtitle C that exceed the cost of implementing the plan.

(f) The division created under Subsection (e)(2) shall:

(1) approve plans and related protocols to administer the developed regional model;

(2) provide training on best practices for all local probation departments affected by the regionalization plan;

(3) assist in research-based program development;

(4) monitor contract and program measures for the regionalization plan;

(5) analyze department data to provide clear guidance to local probation departments on outcome measures; and

(6) report on performance of specific programs and placements to assist in implementing best practices and maximize the impact of state funds.

(g) A region is eligible for funding to support evidence-based, intensive in-home services only if the region meets the performance standards established by the department and adopted in contracts for placement and services.

(h) The department shall adopt rules to allow the local probation departments implementing the regionalization plan to access the data submitted by those departments in the state juvenile case management system for planning and research purposes.

Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 962 (S.B. 1630), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2015.