AN ACT
1-1 relating to burial expenses for children in foster care.
1-2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-3 SECTION 1. Section 264.012, Family Code, is amended to read
1-4 as follows:
1-5 Sec. 264.012. BURIAL [FUNERAL] EXPENSES FOR CHILD IN FOSTER
1-6 CARE. (a) The department shall request that the parents pay
1-7 reasonable and necessary burial expenses for a child for whom the
1-8 department has been appointed managing conservator and who dies in
1-9 foster care, including a request that if the parents have an
1-10 insurance policy or a bank account for the child, that the parents
1-11 spend the proceeds from the policy or money in the account on the
1-12 burial expenses. If the parents cannot pay all or part of the
1-13 burial expenses, the department shall [may] spend funds
1-14 appropriated for the child protective services program to pay
1-15 reasonable and necessary burial [funeral] expenses for the [a]
1-16 child [for whom the department has been appointed managing
1-17 conservator and who dies in foster care].
1-18 (b) The department may accept donations, gifts, or in-kind
1-19 contributions to cover the costs of any burial expenses for
1-20 children for whom the department has been appointed managing
1-21 conservator.
1-22 (c) This section does not apply to a foster parent.
1-23 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-24 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
S.B. No. 996
2-1 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-2 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-3 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-4 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. 996 passed the Senate on
March 30, 1999, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0;
May 28, 1999, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and
requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 29, 1999, House
granted request of the Senate; May 30, 1999, Senate adopted
Conference Committee Report by a viva-voce vote.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 996 passed the House, with
amendments, on May 25, 1999, by a non-record vote; May 29, 1999,
House granted request of the Senate for appointment of Conference
Committee; May 30, 1999, House adopted Conference Committee Report
by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
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Date
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Governor