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.