SRC-MKV S.B. 297 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 297
77R3429 KLA-DBy: West, Royce
Health & Human Services
3/5/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's March 1996 Current Population Survey,
about 4 million children nationwide lived in a grandparent's home, nearly
double the 2.3 million who did so in 1980. With the passage of S.B. 1423 by
the 76th Legislature and the inception of the Grandparents Program, more
than 4,400 grandparent households and more than 8,000 grandchildren in
Texas have benefitted from the one-time payment of $1,000 as of January 29,
2001. As proposed, S.B. 297 increases the income limit from 100 percent of
the federal poverty level to 150 percent, which would provide supplemental
financial assistance to additional grandparents who care for their
grandchildren.  This bill will allow thousands of children to remain in the
care of grandparents and offer them an alternative to the foster care
system. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 31.0041(a), Human Resources Code, to change
eligibility requirements for supplemental financial assistance for the
support of a dependent child by the Texas Department of Human Services from
a family whose income is at or below 100 percent of the federal poverty
level to one that is 150 percent of the federal poverty level. 

SECTION 2.  Requires that, if before implementing any provision of this Act
a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal
agency is necessary for implementation, the state agency request the waiver
or authorization and authorizes implementation of that provision until the
waiver or authorization is granted. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.