Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB780 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	85R7845 MK-F
2	2	By: West S.B. No. 780
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to monetary assistance provided by the Department of
8	8	Family and Protective Services to certain relatives and designated
9	9	caregivers.
10	10	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	11	SECTION 1. Section 264.755, Family Code, is amended by
12	12	amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsection (f) to read
13	13	as follows:
14	14	(b) Monetary assistance provided under this section must
15	15	include a one-time cash payment to the caregiver [on the initial
16	16	placement of a child or a sibling group]. The amount of the cash
17	17	payment, as determined by the department, must be at least [may not
18	18	exceed] $1,000 for each child who is not placed as part of a sibling
19	19	group. The payment for placement of a sibling group must be at
20	20	least $1,000 for the group, but may not exceed $1,000 for each child
21	21	in the group. The cash payment must be provided not later than the
22	22	60th day after the date of [on] the initial placement of each child
23	23	with the caregiver and is provided to assist the caregiver in
24	24	purchasing essential child-care items such as furniture and
25	25	clothing. The executive commissioner, with assistance from the
26	26	department and the commission, shall adopt a rule governing the
27	27	method for allocating the one-time cash payment between the
28	28	department and the commission.
29	29	(c) Monetary assistance and additional support services
30	30	provided under this section may include:
31	31	(1) case management services and training and
32	32	information about the child's needs until the caregiver is
33	33	appointed permanent managing conservator;
34	34	(2) referrals to appropriate state agencies
35	35	administering public benefits or assistance programs for which the
36	36	child, the caregiver, or the caregiver's family may qualify;
37	37	(3) family counseling not provided under the Medicaid
38	38	program for the caregiver's family for a period not to exceed two
39	39	years from the date of initial placement;
40	40	(4) if the caregiver meets the eligibility criteria
41	41	determined by rules adopted by the executive commissioner,
42	42	reimbursement of all child-care expenses incurred while the child
43	43	is under 13 years of age, or under 18 years of age if the child has a
44	44	developmental disability, and while the department is the child's
45	45	managing conservator;
46	46	(5) if the caregiver meets the eligibility criteria
47	47	determined by rules adopted by the executive commissioner,
48	48	reimbursement of 50 percent of child-care expenses incurred after
49	49	the caregiver is appointed permanent managing conservator of the
50	50	child while the child is under 13 years of age, or under 18 years of
51	51	age if the child has a developmental disability; and
52	52	(6) at least $500 per year for each child for
53	53	reimbursement of other expenses and the general care of the child,
54	54	as determined by rules adopted by the executive commissioner[, not
55	55	to exceed $500 per year for each child].
56	56	(f) The department shall reimburse a relative or other
57	57	designated caregiver annually for expenses permitted under
58	58	Subsection (c)(6). The department shall issue the initial
59	59	reimbursement as soon as possible but not later than the 180th day
60	60	after the date the child or sibling group is placed with the
61	61	relative or designated caregiver. If the department does not
62	62	receive an initial request for reimbursement from the relative or
63	63	designated caregiver before the 180th day after the date of
64	64	placement, the department shall:
65	65	(1) make a good faith effort, as part of the
66	66	department's regular contact with the relative or designated
67	67	caregiver, to request submission of the initial reimbursement
68	68	request; and
69	69	(2) issue the reimbursement as soon as possible after
70	70	the department receives the request for reimbursement.
71	71	SECTION 2. (a) Sections 264.755(b) and (c), Family Code, as
72	72	amended by this Act, apply only to monetary assistance with respect
73	73	to a child who is initially placed with a relative or other
74	74	designated caregiver on or after the effective date of this Act.
75	75	Monetary assistance with respect to a child who is initially placed
76	76	with a relative or other designated caregiver before that date is
77	77	governed by the law in effect on the date of the initial placement,
78	78	and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
79	79	(b) Section 264.755(f), Family Code, as added by this Act,
80	80	applies only to the reimbursement of a relative or other designated
81	81	caregiver for expenses for which a completed request for
82	82	reimbursement is submitted to the Department of Family and
83	83	Protective Services on or after the effective date of this Act.
84	84	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.