SRC-AXB, DBM S.B. 996 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 996 By: Lindsay Human Services 7/8/1999 Enrolled DIGEST Currently, the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (department) may pay reasonable funeral expenses for a child for whom the department has been appointed managing conservator and who dies while in foster care. Since these children are in the legal custody of the state, the state is obligated to pay their funeral expenses. S.B. 996 requests the biological parents of the child to pay for reasonable and necessary burial expenses for a foster child who dies in foster care while the department has been appointed managing conservator; but would require the department to pay the expenses if the parents cannot. PURPOSE As enrolled, S.B. 996 sets forth requirements for burial expenses of children in foster care. 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 Section 264.012, Family Code, as follows: Sec. 264.012. New heading: BURIAL EXPENSES FOR CHILD IN FOSTER CARE. Requires the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (DPRS) to request parents to pay for the burial expense of a child who dies in foster care, including a specific request regarding an insurance policy or bank account for the child. Authorizes DPRS to take certain actions in the case of parents who cannot pay for the burial expenes. Authorizes DPRS to accept certain monies for a child's burial expenses. Specifies that this section does not apply to a foster parent. SECTION 2.Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3.Emergency clause.