2023 Texas Statutes › Government Code › Title 4 - Executive Branch › Subtitle I - Health and Human Services › Chapter 522 - Provisions Applicable to All Health and Human Services Agencies and Certain Other State Entities › Subchapter D. Coordination of Multiagency Services › Section 522.0155. Contents of Memorandum of Understanding

Text of section effective on April 01, 2025
Sec. 522.0155.  CONTENTS OF MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.  The memorandum of understanding required by this subchapter must:
(1)  clarify the statutory responsibilities of each state entity to which this subchapter applies in relation to individuals needing multiagency services, including subcategories for different services such as:
(A)  family preservation and strengthening;
(B)  physical and behavioral health care;
(C)  prevention and early intervention services, including services designed to prevent:
(i)  child abuse;
(ii)  neglect; or
(iii)  delinquency, truancy, or school dropout;
(D)  diversion from juvenile or criminal justice involvement;
(E)  housing;
(F)  aging in place;
(G)  emergency shelter;
(H)  residential care;
(I)  after-care;
(J)  information and referral; and
(K)  investigation services;
(2)  include a functional definition of "individuals needing multiagency services";
(3)  outline membership, officers, and necessary standing committees of local-level interagency staffing groups;
(4)  define procedures aimed at eliminating duplication of services relating to assessment and diagnosis, treatment, residential placement and care, and case management of individuals needing multiagency services;
(5)  define procedures for addressing disputes between the state entities that relate to the entities' areas of service responsibilities;
(6)  provide that each local-level interagency staffing group includes:
(A)  a local representative of each state entity;
(B)  representatives of local private sector agencies; and
(C)  family members or caregivers of individuals needing multiagency services or other current or previous consumers of multiagency services acting as general consumer advocates;
(7)  provide that the local representative of each state entity has authority to contribute entity resources to solving problems identified by the local-level interagency staffing group;
(8)  provide that if an individual's needs exceed the resources of a state entity, the entity may, with the consent of the individual's legal guardian, if applicable, submit a referral on behalf of the individual to the local-level interagency staffing group for consideration;
(9)  provide that a local-level interagency staffing group may be called together by a representative of any member state entity;
(10)  provide that a state entity representative may be excused from attending a meeting if the staffing group determines that the age or needs of the individual to be considered are clearly not within the entity's service responsibilities, provided that each entity representative is encouraged to attend all meetings to contribute to the collective ability of the staffing group to solve an individual's need for multiagency services;
(11)  define the relationship between state-level interagency staffing groups and local-level interagency staffing groups in a manner that defines, supports, and maintains local autonomy;
(12)  provide that records used or developed by a local-level interagency staffing group or the group's members that relate to a particular individual are confidential and may not be released to any other person or agency except as provided by this subchapter or other law; and
(13)  provide a procedure that permits the state entities to share confidential information while preserving the confidential nature of the information.
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 4611), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2025.