BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 263

By: Menéndez

Human Services

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that the financial responsibility associated with caring for a dependent child can discourage people from becoming relative caretakers. This has left some children in Texas with no willing relative caretakers, resulting in the child's placement in foster care. Currently, relative caretakers are eligible to receive a supplemental TANF payment only if they are at least 45 years of age and a grandparent of the dependent child. These restrictions exclude a larger pool of relatives who may need financial assistance to care for a child and who, without the assistance, may be forced to leave the child in foster care. S.B. 263 seeks to address this issue by expanding the category of relative caretakers eligible for a supplemental payment from the state.

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

S.B. 263 amends the Human Resources Code to revise provisions relating to the TANF supplemental grandparent payment to do the following:

· expand the relative caregivers of a dependent child who are eligible for the supplemental payment to include an aunt, uncle, or sibling; and

· lower the minimum age to qualify for the payment from 45 years of age to 25 years of age.

The bill includes the aunt, uncle, or sibling of a child receiving TANF among the relatives who may serve as a protective payee for the child and requires that a person be at least 25 years of age to serve in that capacity.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.