By:  Zaffirini, Moncrief, West                S.B. No. 412

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

                                       AN ACT

 1-1     relating to maximizing federal reimbursement for certain foster

 1-2     care program costs.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code,

 1-5     is amended by adding Section 40.0563 to read as follows:

 1-6           Sec. 40.0563.  FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR FOSTER CARE COSTS.

 1-7     The department shall work with the Health and Human Services

 1-8     Commission to develop methods to maximize the amount of federal

 1-9     reimbursement funds received under:

1-10                 (1)  Title IV-E, Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section

1-11     670 et seq.), for administering the foster care program and for

1-12     providing child care in for-profit facilities through the foster

1-13     care program; and

1-14                 (2)  Title XIX, Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section

1-15     1396 et seq.).

1-16           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-17           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-18     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-19     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-20     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-21     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.