By: West S.B. No. 1645
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 amending subsection (a), and adding subsection (b), 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) except as provided by subsection (b), does not
have resources that exceed the amount allowed for financial
assistance under this chapter.
(b) In determining the eligibility for a person under this
subsection, the department may not consider as resources any motor
vehicle in which the person or a member of the person's household
has an ownership interest.
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.