Sec. 22.017.  GRANTS BY COMMISSIONS ESTABLISHED BY SUPREME COURT.  (a)  In this section:
(1)  "Children's commission" means the Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families established by the supreme court.
(2)  "Mental health commission" means the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health established by the supreme court. 
(b)  The children's commission shall develop and administer a program to provide grants from available funds for initiatives that will:
(1)  improve well-being, safety, and permanency outcomes in child protection cases; or
(2)  enhance due process for the parties or the timeliness of resolution in cases involving the welfare of a child.
(c)  The children's commission may develop and administer a program to provide grants from available funds for:
(1)  initiatives designed to prevent or minimize the involvement of children in the juvenile justice system or promote the rehabilitation of children involved in the juvenile justice system; and
(2)  any other initiatives identified by the children's commission or the supreme court to improve the administration of justice for children. 
(d)  To be eligible for a grant administered by the children's commission under this section, a prospective recipient must:
(1)  use the grant money to:
(A)  improve well-being, safety, or permanency outcomes in child protection cases;
(B)  enhance due process for the parties or the timeliness of resolution in cases involving the welfare of a child;
(C)  prevent or minimize the involvement of children in the juvenile justice system or promote the rehabilitation of children involved in the juvenile justice system; or
(D)  accomplish any other initiatives identified by the children's commission or the supreme court to improve the administration of justice for children; and
(2)  apply for the grant in accordance with procedures developed by the children's commission and comply with any other requirements of the supreme court.
(e)  The mental health commission may develop and administer a program to provide grants from available funds for initiatives that will improve the administration of justice for individuals with mental health needs or an intellectual or developmental disability. 
(f)  To be eligible for a grant administered by the mental health commission under this section, a prospective recipient must:
(1)  use the grant money to improve the administration of justice for individuals with mental health needs or an intellectual or developmental disability; and 
(2)  apply for the grant in accordance with procedures developed by the mental health commission and comply with any other requirements of the supreme court. 
(g)  If the children's commission or the mental health commission awards a grant under this section, the commission administering the grant shall:
(1)  direct the comptroller to distribute the grant money; and
(2)  monitor the use of the grant money.
(h)  The children's commission and the mental health commission may accept gifts, grants, and donations for purposes of this section. 
Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3 (H.B. 79), Sec. 8.02, eff. January 1, 2012.
Amended by: 
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 606 (S.B. 891), Sec. 12.01, eff. September 1, 2019.