AN ACT
1-1 relating to providing supplemental financial assistance and
1-2 services to certain grandparents.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Human Resources Code,
1-5 is amended by adding Section 31.0041 to read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 31.0041. SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN
1-7 PERSONS. (a) To the extent funds are appropriated for this
1-8 purpose, the department may provide supplemental financial
1-9 assistance in addition to the amount of financial assistance
1-10 granted for the support of a dependent child under Section 31.003
1-11 to a person who:
1-12 (1) is 50 years of age or older;
1-13 (2) is the grandparent of the dependent child, as
1-14 defined by Section 31.002, who lives at the person's residence;
1-15 (3) is the primary caretaker of the dependent child;
1-16 (4) has a family income that is at or below 100
1-17 percent of the federal poverty level; and
1-18 (5) does not have resources that exceed the amount
1-19 allowed for financial assistance under this chapter.
1-20 (b) Supplemental financial assistance provided to a person
1-21 under this section may include one or more cash payments, not to
1-22 exceed a total of $1,000, after determination of eligibility for
1-23 supplemental financial assistance under this section.
1-24 (c) The department shall inform an applicant for financial
2-1 assistance under this chapter who meets the eligibility
2-2 requirements under Subsection (a) of the availability of
2-3 supplemental financial assistance.
2-4 (d) The department shall maintain complete records and
2-5 compile statistics regarding the number of households that receive
2-6 supplemental financial assistance under this section.
2-7 (e) After a person receives supplemental financial
2-8 assistance under Subsection (b) on behalf of a dependent child, no
2-9 other person is eligible under Subsection (a) to receive
2-10 supplemental financial assistance on behalf of that child.
2-11 SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code,
2-12 is amended by adding Section 40.070 to read as follows:
2-13 Sec. 40.070. SUPPORT SERVICES FOR CERTAIN FAMILIES. (a) If
2-14 the department places a child who is in the conservatorship of the
2-15 state in the home of a grandparent of the child, the department
2-16 shall:
2-17 (1) refer the grandparent to support services offered
2-18 by the department; and
2-19 (2) inform the grandparent of the availability of
2-20 financial assistance under Chapter 31, including supplemental
2-21 financial assistance, if the eligibility requirements of that
2-22 chapter are satisfied.
2-23 (b) The department shall maintain complete records and
2-24 compile statistics regarding the number of children who are placed
2-25 by the department in the home of a grandparent of the child.
2-26 SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act
3-1 a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
3-2 federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
3-3 the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
3-4 authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
3-5 waiver or authorization is granted.
3-6 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
3-7 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the
3-8 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-9 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-10 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-11 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
S.B. No. 1423
________________________________ ________________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1423 passed the Senate on
April 13, 1999, by a viva-voce vote; May 25, 1999, Senate refused
to concur in House amendment and requested appointment of
Conference Committee; May 26, 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. 1423 passed the House, with
amendment, on May 22, 1999, by a non-record vote; May 26, 1999,
House granted request of the Senate for appointment of Conference
Committee; May 29, 1999, House adopted Conference Committee Report
by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
________________________________
Date
________________________________
Governor