1-1 By: Lindsay S.B. No. 996
1-2 (In the Senate - Filed March 8, 1999; March 10, 1999, read
1-3 first time and referred to Committee on Human Services;
1-4 March 22, 1999, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
1-5 Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0; March 22, 1999,
1-6 sent to printer.)
1-7 COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 996 By: Carona
1-8 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-9 AN ACT
1-10 relating to funeral expenses for children in foster care.
1-11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-12 SECTION 1. Section 264.012, Family Code, is amended to read
1-13 as follows:
1-14 Sec. 264.012. FUNERAL EXPENSES FOR CHILD IN FOSTER CARE.
1-15 The department shall request the biological parent or parents to
1-16 pay reasonable and necessary funeral expenses for a child for whom
1-17 the department has been appointed managing conservator and who dies
1-18 in foster care. If the biological parents have an insurance policy
1-19 or savings account for the child, these resources should be spent
1-20 on the funeral expenses. If the biological parent or parents
1-21 cannot pay the funeral expenses, the department shall [may] spend
1-22 funds appropriated for the child protective services program to pay
1-23 reasonable and necessary funeral expenses for a child for whom the
1-24 department has been appointed managing conservator and who dies in
1-25 foster care. The department may accept donations, gifts, or
1-26 in-kind expenses in relation to funeral expenses for children for
1-27 whom the department has been appointed managing conservator.
1-28 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-29 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
1-30 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-31 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-32 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-33 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
1-34 * * * * *