1. (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.
2. (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.

3. (c) A secure agency foster home verified under this section must provide:

   1. (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:

      1. (A) victim and family counseling;
      2. (B) behavioral health care;
      3. (C) treatment and intervention for sexual assault;
      4. (D) education tailored to the child's needs;
      5. (E) life skills training;
      6. (F) mentoring; and
      7. (G) substance abuse screening and treatment as needed;
   2. (2) individualized services based on the trauma endured by a child, as determined through comprehensive assessments of the service needs of the child;
   3. (3) 24-hour services; and
   4. (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.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 317 (H.B. 7), Sec. 62, eff. September 1, 2017.