By: West S.B. No. 502
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to placement of children with certain relatives or other
designated caregivers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter I, Chapter 264, Family Code, is
amended by adding Section 264.7541 to read as follows:
Sec. 264.7541. CAREGIVER VISIT WITH CHILD; INFORMATION.
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), before placing a child
with a proposed relative or other designated caregiver, the
department must:
(1) arrange a visit between the child and the proposed
caregiver; and
(2) provide the proposed caregiver with a form, which
may be the same form the department provides to nonrelative
caregivers, containing information, to the extent it is available,
about the child that would enhance continuity of care for the child,
including:
(A) the child's school information and
educational needs;
(B) the child's medical, dental, and mental
health care information;
(C) the child's social and family information;
and
(D) any other information about the child the
department determines will assist the proposed caregiver in meeting
the child's needs.
(b) The department may waive the requirements of Subsection
(a) if the proposed relative or other designated caregiver has a
long-standing or significant relationship with the child and has
provided care for the child at any time during the 12 months
preceding the date of the proposed placement.
SECTION 2. Subsection (b), Section 264.755, Family Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) Monetary assistance provided under this section must
include a one-time cash payment [of not more than $1,000] to the
caregiver on the initial placement of a child or a sibling group.
The amount of the cash payment, as determined by the department, may
not exceed $1,000 for each child. The payment for placement of a
sibling group must be at least $1,000 for the group, but may not
exceed $1,000 for each child in the group. The cash payment must be
provided on the initial placement of each child with the caregiver
and is provided to assist the caregiver in purchasing essential
child-care items such as furniture and clothing.
SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to the placement of a child for whom the Department of Family and
Protective Services is named managing conservator on or after the
effective date of this Act.
SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act to Subsection
(b), Section 264.755, Family Code, does not make an appropriation
or require a specific appropriation. The new duty imposed on the
Department of Family and Protective Services as a result of the
changes to that section must be performed through the
appropriations provided by the legislature as part of the existing
responsibilities of the department.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.