| 1 | 1 | | 84R14778 MK-D |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Naishtat H.B. No. 843 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | Substitute the following for H.B. No. 843: |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | By: Raymond C.S.H.B. No. 843 |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | relating to housing services provided through the transitional |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | living services program to certain children in the conservatorship |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | of the Department of Family and Protective Services. |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | SECTION 1. Section 264.121, Family Code, is amended by |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | adding Subsection (i) to read as follows: |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | (i) The department shall ensure that the transition plan for |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | each youth 16 years of age or older includes provisions to assist |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | the youth in managing the youth's housing needs after the youth |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | leaves foster care, including provisions that: |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | (1) identify the cost of housing in relation to the |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | youth's sources of income, including any benefits or rental |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | assistance available to the youth; |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | (2) if the youth's housing goals include residing with |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | family or friends, state that the department has addressed the |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | following with the youth: |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | (A) the length of time the youth expects to stay |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | in the housing arrangement; |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | (B) expectations for the youth regarding paying |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | rent and meeting other household obligations; |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | (C) the youth's psychological and emotional |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | needs, as applicable; and |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | (D) any potential conflicts with other household |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | members, or any difficulties connected to the type of housing the |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | youth is seeking, that may arise based on the youth's psychological |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | and emotional needs; |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | (3) inform the youth about emergency shelters and |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | housing resources, including supervised independent living and |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | housing at colleges and universities, such as dormitories; |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | (4) require the department to review a common rental |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | application with the youth and ensure that the youth possesses all |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | of the documentation required to obtain rental housing; and |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | (5) identify any individuals who are able to serve as |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | cosigners or references on the youth's applications for housing. |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
|---|