Texas 2013 - 83rd Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB430 Latest Draft

Bill / House Committee Report Version Filed 02/01/2025

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                            By: Nelson S.B. No. 430
 (Guillen, Raymond, Lozano)


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to verification of the unavailability of community day
 care before the Department of Family and Protective Services
 provides day-care assistance or services.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is
 amended by adding Section 264.124 to read as follows:
 Sec. 264.124.  DAY CARE FOR FOSTER CHILD. (a)  In this
 section, "day care" means the assessment, care, training,
 education, custody, treatment, or supervision of a foster child by
 a person other than the child's foster parent for less than 24 hours
 a day, but at least two hours a day, three or more days a week.
 (b)  The department, in accordance with executive
 commissioner rule, shall implement a process to verify that each
 foster parent who is seeking monetary assistance from the
 department for day care for a foster child has attempted to find
 appropriate day-care services for the foster child through
 community services, including Head Start programs, prekindergarten
 classes, and early education programs offered in public schools.
 The department shall specify the documentation the foster parent
 must provide to the department to demonstrate compliance with the
 requirements established under this subsection.
 (c)  Except as provided by Subsection (d), the department may
 not provide monetary assistance to a foster parent for day care for
 a foster child unless the department receives the verification
 required under Subsection (b).
 (d)  The department may provide monetary assistance to a
 foster parent for a foster child without the verification required
 under Subsection (b) if the department determines the verification
 would prevent an emergency placement that is in the child's best
 interest.
 SECTION 2.  Section 264.755, Family Code, is amended by
 adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:
 (d)  The department, in accordance with executive
 commissioner rule, shall implement a process to verify that each
 relative and designated caregiver who is seeking monetary
 assistance or additional support services from the department for
 day care as defined by Section 264.124 for a child under this
 section has attempted to find appropriate day-care services for the
 child through community services, including Head Start programs,
 prekindergarten classes, and early education programs offered in
 public schools.  The department shall specify the documentation the
 relative or designated caregiver must provide to the department to
 demonstrate compliance with the requirements established under
 this subsection.  The department may not provide monetary
 assistance or additional support services to the relative or
 designated caregiver for the day care unless the department
 receives the required verification.
 (e)  The department may provide monetary assistance or
 additional support services to a relative or designated caregiver
 for day care without the verification required under Subsection (d)
 if the department determines the verification would prevent an
 emergency placement that is in the child's best interest.
 SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.