Relating to the contract requirements for a contract between a single source continuum contractor and the Department of Family and Protective Services.

Contracts

• Master Service Agreements (MSA): Legal teams must prepare for DFPS to insert non-negotiable clauses regarding court order compliance (Subsection 9) and financial penalties (Subsection 10).
• Subcontractor Agreements: SSCCs must immediately amend contracts with Child Placing Agencies (CPAs) and other providers. You must flow down the requirement to comply with court orders and include indemnification clauses. If a subcontractor ignores a judge's order and DFPS penalizes the SSCC, the subcontractor must be contractually liable for that cost.
• The "Amendment Trap": Do not sign *any* minor contract modification (e.g., a small scope change) without realizing it triggers the full weight of HB4129 on your existing MSA.

Hiring/Training

• Court Liaison Protocols: Case management teams require training on the new legal weight of court orders. A missed visitation order or therapy mandate is no longer just a compliance ding; it is a breach of contract.
• Rapid Response Teams: Establish a workflow to ingest court orders within 24 hours and assign them to specific personnel for execution.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

• Judicial Order Logs: Maintain an auditable registry of all court orders received, including date of receipt, assigned owner, and date of compliance. This log is your primary defense against breach of contract claims.
• Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs): QIPs are now tied to financial penalties. Documentation for QIPs must be data-driven and defensive, proving adherence to "high-quality service" metrics to avoid financial interventions.

Fees & Costs

• Financial Interventions: The law authorizes DFPS to withhold payments or levy penalties for failure to meet quality standards. Budget for potential revenue volatility and increased legal reserves for contract disputes.