By Lindsay                                             S.B. No. 996
         76R8662 CMR-D                           
                                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.
 1-7     The department shall [may] spend funds appropriated for the child
 1-8     protective services program to pay reasonable and necessary funeral
 1-9     expenses for a child for whom the department has been appointed
1-10     managing conservator and who dies in foster care.
1-11           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-12           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-13     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-14     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-15     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-16     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.