76R10761 CMR-D
By Lindsay S.B. No. 996
Substitute the following for S.B. No. 996:
By Coleman C.S.S.B. No. 996
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to funeral expenses for children in foster care.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 264.012, Family Code, is amended to read
1-5 as follows:
1-6 Sec. 264.012. FUNERAL EXPENSES FOR CHILD IN FOSTER CARE. (a)
1-7 The department shall request that the parents pay reasonable and
1-8 necessary funeral expenses for a child for whom the department has
1-9 been appointed managing conservator and who dies in foster care,
1-10 including a request that if the parents have an insurance policy or
1-11 a bank account for the child, that the parents spend the proceeds
1-12 from the policy or money in the account on the funeral expenses. If
1-13 the parents cannot pay all or part of the funeral expenses, the
1-14 department shall [may] spend funds appropriated for the child
1-15 protective services program to pay reasonable and necessary funeral
1-16 expenses for the [a] child [for whom the department has been
1-17 appointed managing 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 funeral 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
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.