REQUIREMENTS REGARDING THE WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN PROGRAM.

(a) An agency, organization, or other entity that contracts with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children shall each month provide the clinical and nutritional services supported by that program during extended hours, as defined by the department.

(b) Each agency, organization, or other entity that contracts with the program to provide clinical or nutritional services shall include in its annual plan submitted to the department a plan to expand client access to services through extended hours, the schedule for each site that provides services, and the reasons for each site's schedule. An agency, organization, or other entity that contracts with the program is not required to offer extended hours at each of its service sites.

(c) The department shall adopt guidelines for extended hours and waivers from the requirement of Subsection (a).

(d) To obtain a waiver, an agency, organization, or other entity shall submit a written justification to the department explaining the extraordinary circumstances involved and identifying the time frame needed for their resolution.

(e) The department may not grant a waiver to an agency, organization, or other entity for a period of more than two years.

(f) If an agency, organization, or other entity required by this section to maintain extended hours provides other maternal and child health services, that entity shall also make those services available during the extended hours.