Sec. 203.0081.  ADVISORY COUNCIL ON JUVENILE SERVICES.  (a)  The advisory council on juvenile services consists of:
(1)  the executive director of the department or the executive director's designee;
(2)  the director of probation services of the department or the director's designee;
(3)  the director of state programs and facilities of the department or the director's designee;
(4)  the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission or the commissioner's designee;
(5)  one representative of the county commissioners courts appointed by the board;
(6)  two juvenile court judges appointed by the board;
(7)  seven chief juvenile probation officers appointed by the board as provided by Subsection (b); and
(8)  the commissioner of the Department of Family and Protective Services or the commissioner's designee.
(b)  The board shall appoint to the advisory council one chief juvenile probation officer from each regional chiefs association in this state from a list of nominees submitted to the board by each regional chiefs association.  To the greatest extent practicable, a regional chiefs association shall include in its list of nominees:
(1)  one chief juvenile probation officer of a juvenile probation department serving a county with a population that includes fewer than 7,500 persons younger than 18 years of age;
(2)  one chief juvenile probation officer of a juvenile probation department serving a county with a population that includes at least 7,500 but fewer than 80,000 persons younger than 18 years of age; and
(3)  one chief juvenile probation officer of a juvenile probation department serving a county with a population that includes 80,000 or more persons younger than 18 years of age.
(c)  Advisory council members, other than ex officio members, serve staggered two-year terms, with the terms of one-half of the members, as nearly as practicable, expiring on February 1 of each year.
(c-1)  The board shall adopt rules regarding:
(1)  the purpose, role, responsibility, goals, and duration of the advisory council;
(2)  the quorum requirement for the advisory council;
(3)  training requirements for advisory council members;
(4)  policies to avoid conflicts of interest by advisory council members;
(5)  a periodic review process to evaluate the continuing need for the advisory council;
(6)  policies to ensure the advisory council does not violate any provision of Chapter 551, Government Code, applicable to the board or the advisory council;
(7)  the appropriate level of participation from ex officio advisory council members designated under Subsections (a)(1)-(4) and (8); and
(8)  reporting requirements and other communication procedures between the board and the advisory council.
(d)  The advisory council shall report to the board any determinations made under Subsection (e).
(e)  The advisory council shall assist the department in:
(1)  determining the needs and problems of county juvenile boards and probation departments;
(2)  conducting long-range strategic planning;
(3)  reviewing and proposing revisions to existing or newly proposed standards affecting juvenile probation programs, services, or facilities;
(4)  analyzing the potential cost impact on juvenile probation departments of new standards proposed by the board;
(5)  assessing and developing recommendations to improve the sharing of information between agencies that serve children, including agencies serving children in both the juvenile justice and child welfare systems; and
(6)  advising the board on any other matter on the request of the board.
(f)  The advisory council is not subject to Chapter 2110, Government Code.
Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 85 (S.B. 653), Sec. 1.002, eff. September 1, 2011.
Amended by: 
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1033 (H.B. 2733), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2013.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 950 (S.B. 1727), Sec. 20, eff. September 1, 2023.