TX
Texas House Bill HB3815

Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB3815 Compare Versions

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1-87R19491 BDP-D
1+87R5619 BDP-D
22 By: Hunter H.B. No. 3815
3- Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3815:
4- By: Noble C.S.H.B. No. 3815
53
64
75 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
86 AN ACT
97 relating to transitional living services provided to foster youth
108 transitioning to independent living.
119 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1210 SECTION 1. Section 264.121(a), Family Code, is amended to
1311 read as follows:
1412 (a) The department shall address the unique challenges
1513 facing foster children in the conservatorship of the department who
1614 must transition to independent living by:
1715 (1) expanding efforts to improve transition planning
1816 and increasing the availability of transitional family group
1917 decision-making to all youth age 14 or older in the department's
2018 permanent managing conservatorship, including enrolling the youth
2119 in the Preparation for Adult Living Program before the age of 16;
2220 (2) coordinating with the commission to obtain
2321 authority, to the extent allowed by federal law, the state Medicaid
2422 plan, the Title IV-E state plan, and any waiver or amendment to
2523 either plan, necessary to:
26- (A) extend foster care eligibility and
27- transition services for youth up to age 23 [21] and develop policy
28- to permit eligible youth to return to foster care as necessary to
24+ (A) extend foster care eligibility [and
25+ transition services for youth] up to age 21 and develop policy to
26+ permit eligible youth to return to foster care as necessary to
2927 achieve the goals of the Transitional Living Services Program;
3028 [and]
31- (B) extend Medicaid coverage for foster care
32- youth and former foster care youth up to age 26 to continue to
33- receive coverage under the STAR Health program and to allow foster
34- care youth to apply for coverage [21] with a single application at
35- the time the youth leaves foster care; and
36- (C) allow youth who are 14 years of age or older
37- but not more than 26 years of age to participate in the Education
38- and Training Voucher Program as long as the student is making
39- satisfactory progress toward completion of the program; and
29+ (B) extend transition services for youth up to
30+ age 21, or age 23 as authorized by Section 264.1214, and develop
31+ policy to permit eligible youth who have exited foster care to
32+ continue to participate in the Transitional Living Services Program
33+ as necessary to achieve the goals of the program; and
34+ (C) extend Medicaid coverage for foster care
35+ youth and former foster care youth up to age 21 or age 23 as
36+ authorized by Section 264.1214 with a single application at the
37+ time the youth leaves foster care; and
4038 (3) entering into cooperative agreements with the
4139 Texas Workforce Commission and local workforce development boards
4240 to further the objectives of the Preparation for Adult Living
4341 Program. The department, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the
4442 local workforce development boards shall ensure that services are
4543 prioritized and targeted to meet the needs of foster care and former
4644 foster care children and that such services will include, where
4745 feasible, referrals for short-term stays for youth needing housing.
4846 SECTION 2. Section 264.121(b)(3), Family Code, is amended
4947 to read as follows:
5048 (3) "Transitional Living Services Program" means a
5149 program, administered by the department in accordance with
5250 department rules and state and federal law, for youth who are age 14
53- or older but not more than 23 [21] years of age and are currently or
54- were formerly in foster care, that assists youth in transitioning
55- from foster care to independent living. The program provides
56- transitional living services, extended foster care, Preparation
57- for Adult Living Program services, and Education and Training
58- Voucher Program services.
51+ or older but not more than 21 years of age, or 23 years of age as
52+ authorized by Section 264.1214, and are currently or were formerly
53+ in foster care, that assists youth in transitioning from foster
54+ care to independent living. The program provides transitional
55+ living services, Preparation for Adult Living Program services, and
56+ Education and Training Voucher Program services.
5957 SECTION 3. Section 264.121(c), Family Code, is amended to
6058 read as follows:
6159 (c) At the time a child enters the Preparation for Adult
6260 Living Program, the department shall provide an information booklet
6361 to the child and the foster parent describing the program and the
6462 benefits available to the child, including extended Medicaid
65- coverage until age 26 [21], priority status with the Texas
66- Workforce Commission, and the exemption from the payment of tuition
67- and fees at institutions of higher education as defined by Section
68- 61.003, Education Code. The information booklet provided to the
69- child and the foster parent shall be provided in the primary
70- language spoken by that individual.
71- SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
63+ coverage until age 21, or age 23 as authorized by Section 264.1214,
64+ priority status with the Texas Workforce Commission, and the
65+ exemption from the payment of tuition and fees at institutions of
66+ higher education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code. The
67+ information booklet provided to the child and the foster parent
68+ shall be provided in the primary language spoken by that
69+ individual.
70+ SECTION 4. Section 264.121(f), Family Code, is amended to
71+ read as follows:
72+ (f) The department shall require a person with whom the
73+ department contracts for transitional living services for foster
74+ youth to provide or assist youth in obtaining:
75+ (1) housing services;
76+ (2) job training and employment services;
77+ (3) college preparation services;
78+ (4) services that will assist youth in obtaining a
79+ general education development certificate;
80+ (5) services that will assist youth in developing
81+ skills in food preparation;
82+ (6) nutrition education that promotes healthy food
83+ choices;
84+ (7) a savings or checking account if the youth is at
85+ least 18 years of age and has a source of income;
86+ (8) mental health services;
87+ (9) financial literacy education and civic engagement
88+ lessons required under Subsection (a-2); [and]
89+ (10) for youth that meet the criteria under Section
90+ 264.1214(a), financial support for on-campus or off-campus housing
91+ and utilities; and
92+ (11) any other appropriate transitional living
93+ service identified by the department.
94+ SECTION 5. Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is
95+ amended by adding Section 264.1214 to read as follows:
96+ Sec. 264.1214. MEDICAID AND TRANSITION SERVICES UNTIL AGE
97+ 23. (a) A youth is eligible for Medicaid and transition services
98+ until the youth attains the age of 23 as long as the youth is
99+ regularly attending an institution of higher education or a
100+ postsecondary vocational or technical program.
101+ (b) A youth who graduates from an institution of higher
102+ education or a postsecondary vocational or technical program is
103+ eligible for Medicaid and transition services until the earlier of:
104+ (1) the youth's 23rd birthday;
105+ (2) the 90th day after the date the youth graduates
106+ from an undergraduate program or a postsecondary vocational or
107+ technical program; or
108+ (3) the date the youth begins full-time employment.
109+ SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.