Sec. 42.0531.  SECURE AGENCY FOSTER HOMES.  (a)  The commissioners court of a county or governing body of a municipality may contract with a child-placing agency to verify a secure agency foster home to provide a safe and therapeutic environment tailored to the needs of children who are victims of trafficking.
(b)  A child-placing agency may not verify a secure agency foster home to provide services under this section unless the child-placing agency holds a license issued under this chapter that authorizes the agency to provide services to victims of trafficking in accordance with department standards adopted under this chapter for child-placing agencies.
(c)  A secure agency foster home verified under this section must provide:
(1)  mental health and other services specifically designed to assist children who are victims of trafficking under Section 20A.02 or 20A.03, Penal Code, including:
(A)  victim and family counseling;
(B)  behavioral health care;
(C)  treatment and intervention for sexual assault;
(D)  education tailored to the child's needs;
(E)  life skills training;
(F)  mentoring; and
(G)  substance abuse screening and treatment as needed;
(2)  individualized services based on the trauma endured by a child, as determined through comprehensive assessments of the service needs of the child;
(3)  24-hour services; and
(4)  appropriate security through facility design, hardware, technology, and staffing.
Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 338 (H.B. 418), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2015.
Amended by: 
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 317 (H.B. 7), Sec. 62, eff. September 1, 2017.