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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to transitional living services provided to foster youth |
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transitioning to independent living. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 264.121(a), Family Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) The department shall address the unique challenges |
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facing foster children in the conservatorship of the department who |
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must transition to independent living by: |
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(1) expanding efforts to improve transition planning |
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and increasing the availability of transitional family group |
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decision-making to all youth age 14 or older in the department's |
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permanent managing conservatorship, including enrolling the youth |
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in the Preparation for Adult Living Program before the age of 16; |
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(2) coordinating with the commission to obtain |
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authority, to the extent allowed by federal law, the state Medicaid |
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plan, the Title IV-E state plan, and any waiver or amendment to |
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either plan, necessary to: |
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(A) extend foster care eligibility [and |
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transition services for youth] up to age 21 and develop policy to |
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permit eligible youth to return to foster care as necessary to |
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achieve the goals of the Transitional Living Services Program; |
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[and] |
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(B) extend transition services for youth up to |
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age 21, or age 23 as authorized by Section 264.1214, and develop |
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policy to permit eligible youth who have exited foster care to |
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continue to participate in the Transitional Living Services Program |
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as necessary to achieve the goals of the program; and |
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(C) extend Medicaid coverage for foster care |
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youth and former foster care youth up to age 21 or age 23 as |
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authorized by Section 264.1214 with a single application at the |
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time the youth leaves foster care; and |
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(3) entering into cooperative agreements with the |
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Texas Workforce Commission and local workforce development boards |
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to further the objectives of the Preparation for Adult Living |
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Program. The department, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the |
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local workforce development boards shall ensure that services are |
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prioritized and targeted to meet the needs of foster care and former |
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foster care children and that such services will include, where |
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feasible, referrals for short-term stays for youth needing housing. |
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SECTION 2. Section 264.121(b)(3), Family Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(3) "Transitional Living Services Program" means a |
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program, administered by the department in accordance with |
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department rules and state and federal law, for youth who are age 14 |
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or older but not more than 21 years of age, or 23 years of age as |
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authorized by Section 264.1214, and are currently or were formerly |
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in foster care, that assists youth in transitioning from foster |
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care to independent living. The program provides transitional |
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living services, Preparation for Adult Living Program services, and |
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Education and Training Voucher Program services. |
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SECTION 3. Section 264.121(c), Family Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) At the time a child enters the Preparation for Adult |
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Living Program, the department shall provide an information booklet |
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to the child and the foster parent describing the program and the |
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benefits available to the child, including extended Medicaid |
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coverage until age 21, or age 23 as authorized by Section 264.1214, |
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priority status with the Texas Workforce Commission, and the |
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exemption from the payment of tuition and fees at institutions of |
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higher education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code. The |
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information booklet provided to the child and the foster parent |
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shall be provided in the primary language spoken by that |
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individual. |
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SECTION 4. Section 264.121(f), Family Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(f) The department shall require a person with whom the |
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department contracts for transitional living services for foster |
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youth to provide or assist youth in obtaining: |
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(1) housing services; |
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(2) job training and employment services; |
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(3) college preparation services; |
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(4) services that will assist youth in obtaining a |
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general education development certificate; |
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(5) services that will assist youth in developing |
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skills in food preparation; |
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(6) nutrition education that promotes healthy food |
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choices; |
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(7) a savings or checking account if the youth is at |
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least 18 years of age and has a source of income; |
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(8) mental health services; |
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(9) financial literacy education and civic engagement |
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lessons required under Subsection (a-2); [and] |
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(10) for youth that meet the criteria under Section |
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264.1214(a), financial support for on-campus or off-campus housing |
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and utilities; and |
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(11) any other appropriate transitional living |
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service identified by the department. |
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SECTION 5. Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 264.1214 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 264.1214. MEDICAID AND TRANSITION SERVICES UNTIL AGE |
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23. (a) A youth is eligible for Medicaid and transition services |
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until the youth attains the age of 23 as long as the youth is |
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regularly attending an institution of higher education or a |
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postsecondary vocational or technical program. |
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(b) A youth who graduates from an institution of higher |
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education or a postsecondary vocational or technical program is |
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eligible for Medicaid and transition services until the earlier of: |
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(1) the youth's 23rd birthday; |
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(2) the 90th day after the date the youth graduates |
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from an undergraduate program or a postsecondary vocational or |
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technical program; or |
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(3) the date the youth begins full-time employment. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |