AN ACT

 1-1     relating to adoption incentives for licensed child-placing

 1-2     agencies.

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

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Chapter 162, Family Code, is amended by adding

 1-5     Subchapter G to read as follows:

 1-6                   SUBCHAPTER G.  MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 1-7           Sec. 162.601.  INCENTIVES FOR LICENSED CHILD-PLACING

 1-8     AGENCIES.  (a)  Subject to the availability of funds, the

 1-9     Department of Protective and Regulatory Services shall pay, in

1-10     addition to any other amounts due, a monetary incentive to a

1-11     licensed child-placing agency for the completion of an adoption:

1-12                 (1)  of a child, as defined by Section 162.301,

1-13     receiving or entitled to receive foster care at department expense;

1-14     and

1-15                 (2)  arranged with the assistance of the agency.

1-16           (b)  The incentive may not exceed 25 percent of the amount

1-17     the department would have spent to provide one year of foster care

1-18     for the child, determined according to the child's level of care at

1-19     the time the adoption is completed.

1-20           (c)  For purposes of this section, an adoption is completed

1-21     on the date on which the court issues the adoption order.

1-22           SECTION 2.  This Act applies to an adoption that becomes

1-23     final on or after the effective date of this Act.  For purposes of

 2-1     this section, an adoption becomes final on the date the court

 2-2     issues the adoption order.

 2-3           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

 2-4           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-5     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-6     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-7     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-8     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 670 passed the Senate on

         April 8, 1997, by a viva-voce vote; and that the Senate concurred

         in House amendment on May 28, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 670 passed the House, with

         amendment, on May 26, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

         Approved:

         _______________________________

                     Date

         _______________________________

                   Governor