BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 4116 By: Davis, Aicha Human Services Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, relatives and other designated caregivers, also known as kinship caregivers, are required to be informed about the option for permanency care assistance at the time a child is placed with the relative or other caregiver, but the law does not specify the form of that communication. The bill author has informed the committee that placement day can be exceedingly chaotic for both the child and the kinship caregiver and that being informed in writing of available resources is the most appropriate way to ensure that kinship caregivers in the child welfare system know about all potential benefits available to them. Further, the bill's author has informed the committee that many kinship caregivers have complained that they were not told about permanency care assistance, TANF, or other financial assistance for which they may qualify upon taking a child into their home. H.B. 4116 seeks to address these issues and remedy the lack of notice by requiring the Department of Family and Protective Services to inform a relative or other designated caregiver in writing at the time of placement of certain available assistance and programs and by including among the required information the process to become a foster home, the difference between an unverified caregiver and an agency foster home and the additional amount of financial assistance provided after becoming an agency foster home, information regarding TANF, and any financial assistance or other benefit available to the relative or other designated caregiver. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 4116 amends the Family Code to include the following information among the information that the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is required to make available to a relative or other designated caregiver once a child is placed with the relative or caregiver: the process for becoming an agency foster home; the difference between an unverified relative or other designated caregiver and an agency foster home, including the amount of additional financial assistance the relative or other designated caregiver would receive after becoming an agency foster home; the TANF program, including the qualifications for TANF, the process for applying for benefits under TANF, and the amount of financial benefits under TANF; the availability of any financial assistance available under statutory provisions relating to the relative and other designated caregiver placement program; and any other financial benefit available to a relative or other designated caregiver. The bill specifies that the means by which DFPS is required to inform the caregiver of all the information required to be made available under current law and under the bill's provisions is in writing. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 4116
By: Davis, Aicha
Human Services
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 4116
By: Davis, Aicha
Human Services
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, relatives and other designated caregivers, also known as kinship caregivers, are required to be informed about the option for permanency care assistance at the time a child is placed with the relative or other caregiver, but the law does not specify the form of that communication. The bill author has informed the committee that placement day can be exceedingly chaotic for both the child and the kinship caregiver and that being informed in writing of available resources is the most appropriate way to ensure that kinship caregivers in the child welfare system know about all potential benefits available to them. Further, the bill's author has informed the committee that many kinship caregivers have complained that they were not told about permanency care assistance, TANF, or other financial assistance for which they may qualify upon taking a child into their home. H.B. 4116 seeks to address these issues and remedy the lack of notice by requiring the Department of Family and Protective Services to inform a relative or other designated caregiver in writing at the time of placement of certain available assistance and programs and by including among the required information the process to become a foster home, the difference between an unverified caregiver and an agency foster home and the additional amount of financial assistance provided after becoming an agency foster home, information regarding TANF, and any financial assistance or other benefit available to the relative or other designated caregiver.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 4116 amends the Family Code to include the following information among the information that the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is required to make available to a relative or other designated caregiver once a child is placed with the relative or caregiver: the process for becoming an agency foster home; the difference between an unverified relative or other designated caregiver and an agency foster home, including the amount of additional financial assistance the relative or other designated caregiver would receive after becoming an agency foster home; the TANF program, including the qualifications for TANF, the process for applying for benefits under TANF, and the amount of financial benefits under TANF; the availability of any financial assistance available under statutory provisions relating to the relative and other designated caregiver placement program; and any other financial benefit available to a relative or other designated caregiver. The bill specifies that the means by which DFPS is required to inform the caregiver of all the information required to be made available under current law and under the bill's provisions is in writing.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Under current law, relatives and other designated caregivers, also known as kinship caregivers, are required to be informed about the option for permanency care assistance at the time a child is placed with the relative or other caregiver, but the law does not specify the form of that communication. The bill author has informed the committee that placement day can be exceedingly chaotic for both the child and the kinship caregiver and that being informed in writing of available resources is the most appropriate way to ensure that kinship caregivers in the child welfare system know about all potential benefits available to them. Further, the bill's author has informed the committee that many kinship caregivers have complained that they were not told about permanency care assistance, TANF, or other financial assistance for which they may qualify upon taking a child into their home.
H.B. 4116 seeks to address these issues and remedy the lack of notice by requiring the Department of Family and Protective Services to inform a relative or other designated caregiver in writing at the time of placement of certain available assistance and programs and by including among the required information the process to become a foster home, the difference between an unverified caregiver and an agency foster home and the additional amount of financial assistance provided after becoming an agency foster home, information regarding TANF, and any financial assistance or other benefit available to the relative or other designated caregiver.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 4116 amends the Family Code to include the following information among the information that the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is required to make available to a relative or other designated caregiver once a child is placed with the relative or caregiver:
the process for becoming an agency foster home;
the difference between an unverified relative or other designated caregiver and an agency foster home, including the amount of additional financial assistance the relative or other designated caregiver would receive after becoming an agency foster home;
the TANF program, including the qualifications for TANF, the process for applying for benefits under TANF, and the amount of financial benefits under TANF;
the availability of any financial assistance available under statutory provisions relating to the relative and other designated caregiver placement program; and
any other financial benefit available to a relative or other designated caregiver.
The bill specifies that the means by which DFPS is required to inform the caregiver of all the information required to be made available under current law and under the bill's provisions is in writing.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2025.