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:
         ________________________________
                      Date
         ________________________________
                    Governor