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Senate Bill 502 |
Senate Author: West |
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Effective: 9-1-13 |
House Sponsor: Zerwas |
Senate Bill 502 amends the Family Code to require the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), before placing a child for whom DFPS is appointed managing conservator with a proposed relative or other designated caregiver, to arrange a visit between the child and the proposed caregiver and to provide the proposed caregiver with a form, which may be the same form DFPS provides to nonrelative caregivers, containing information about the child that would enhance continuity of care for the child. The bill authorizes DFPS to waive the applicable requirement if the relative or other designated caregiver has a long-standing or significant relationship with the child and has provided care for the child at any time during the 12 months preceding the date of the proposed placement.
Senate Bill 502 specifies that the $1,000 maximum one-time cash payment provided to a caregiver under a caregiver assistance agreement on the initial placement of a child or a sibling group applies to each child and sets the minimum payment for placement of a sibling group at $1,000 for the group with a limit of $1,000 for each child in the group.