87R1990 MCK-D
 
  By: J. Johnson of Harris, Lopez, Frank H.B. No. 700
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the eligibility of foster children to receive college
  credit for completing the Preparation for Adult Living Program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 264.121(a-6), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a-6)  The department, in coordination with the Texas Higher
  Education Coordinating Board [stakeholders], shall establish a
  work group to develop a plan to ensure that foster youth who
  complete [standardize] the standardized curriculum for the
  Preparation for Adult Living Program are eligible to receive
  college credit for completing the program. The work group must
  include representatives from urban and rural institutions of higher
  education, as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code. In
  developing its evidence-based recommendations, the work group
  shall consider the feasibility of implementing each
  recommendation, a foster youth's access to the Preparation for
  Adult Living Program, and the average length of time a foster youth
  will remain in a placement [that ensures that youth 14 years of age
  or older enrolled in the program receive relevant and
  age-appropriate information and training]. The department shall
  report the plan to the legislature not later than November
  [December] 1, 2022 [2018]. This subsection expires September 1,
  2023.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.