Authority/Reference(s) Texas Government Code 402.0212;Texas Government Code §2254
Revision Date March 31, 2025

Policy

Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) Office of General Counsel is responsible for providing legal services to DFPS to ensure the agency complies with applicable state and federal laws. In rare instances the agency may contract for outside legal services.

Outside legal counsel is a service procured in accordance with Texas Government Code §2254, subchapter D or subchapter C for contingency based services.

DFPS Office of General Counsel must submit the invoice to the Attorney General no later than 25 days after the date DFPS receives the invoice, unless DFPS disputes the invoice.

If DFPS disputes an invoice, the dispute must be initiated within 21 days of receipt of the invoice.  DFPS must notify  the attorney or law firm what is being disputed and  request a corrected invoice. Once the corrected invoice is received, the 25-day clock for submission to the Attorney General begins again.