By: West S.B. No. 1643
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the placement of children with certain relatives or
other designated caregivers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 31.0041, Human Resources Code is
amended by adding subsection (b), to read as follows:
Sec. 31.0041. SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR
CERTAIN PERSONS. (a) To the extent funds are appropriated for
this purpose, the department may provide supplemental financial
assistance in addition to the amount of financial assistance
granted for the support of a dependent child under Section 31.003 to
a person who:
(1) is 45 years of age or older;
(2) is the grandparent of the dependent child, as
defined by Section 31.002, who lives at the person's residence;
(3) is the primary caretaker of the dependent child;
(4) has a family income that is at or below 200 percent
of the federal poverty level; and
(5) does not have resources that exceed the amount
allowed for financial assistance under this chapter.
(b) Supplemental financial assistance provided to a person
under this section may include one or more cash payments, not to
exceed a total of $1,000 for each child. The payment for placement
of a sibling group must be a least $1,000 for the group, but may not
exceed $1,000 for each child in the group after determination of
eligibility for supplemental financial assistance under this
section.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect August 31, 2015.