SRC-SLL S.B. 669 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 669
By: Shapiro
Jurisprudence
2-25-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, adoptive parents do not receive a monetary incentive for
adopting children receiving or entitled to receive foster care.  Children
who are eligible for adoption are often spending over 40 months in foster
care before they are placed in an adoptive home.  Many people are hesitant
to adopt children who have been in the care of the Department of
Protective and Regulatory Services due to their special needs and the
financial burden it will place on the family.  Providing a monetary
incentive will help these new parents provide for the special needs of
their child upon receiving that child in their home.  This bill will
require the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services to pay a
monetary incentive to the adoptive parents of certain children. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 669 requires the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services to pay a monetary incentive to the adoptive parents of certain
children. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 162, Family Code, by adding Subchapter G, as
follows: 

SUBCHAPTER G.  MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec.  162.601.  INCENTIVES FOR ADOPTIVE PARENTS.  Requires the Department
of Protective and Regulatory Services (department), subject to the
availability of funds, to pay, in addition to any amount paid under
Section 162.304, a monetary incentive to the adoptive parents of a child
receiving or entitled to receive foster care at the time the adoption is
completed.  Requires the incentive to equal a certain amount.  Provides
that for puposes of this section, an adoption is completed on the date on
which the court issues the adoption order. 

SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.