85R2322 MK-D
By: Wu H.B. No. 706
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to monetary assistance for a relative or other designated
caregiver of children in foster care.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 264.755, Family Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (f) to read
as follows:
(a) The department shall[, subject to the availability of
funds,] enter into a caregiver assistance agreement with each
relative or other designated caregiver to provide monetary
assistance and additional support services to the caregiver.
Subject to Subsection (f), the [The] monetary assistance and
support services shall be based on a family's need, as determined by
rules adopted by the executive commissioner.
(b) Monetary assistance provided under this section must
include a one-time cash payment 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 $2,000
[$1,000] for each child. The payment for placement of a sibling
group must be at least $2,000 [$1,000] for the group, but may not
exceed $2,000 [$1,000] for each child in the group. The cash payment
must be provided not later than the 60th day after the date of [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.
(f) Monetary assistance paid to a relative or other
designated caregiver under a caregiver assistance agreement must be
paid at a daily rate that is equal to at least 50 percent of the
daily foster care reimbursement rate that the department would pay
for the child if the substitute care were provided in a foster home,
foster group home, agency foster home, or agency foster group home
licensed or certified under Chapter 42, Human Resources Code.
SECTION 2. Section 264.755, Family Code, as amended by this
Act, applies only to monetary assistance with respect to a child who
is initially placed with a relative or other designated caregiver
on or after the effective date of this Act. Monetary assistance
with respect to a child who is initially placed with a relative or
other designated caregiver before that date is governed by the law
in effect on the date of the initial placement, and the former law
is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.