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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to providing monetary assistance to certain grandparents |
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caring for their grandchildren. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 40.074 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 40.074. GRANDPARENTS AS CAREGIVERS PROGRAM. (a) The |
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department shall develop and implement a grandparents as caregivers |
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program through which a grandparent who is appointed permanent |
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managing conservator of the person's grandchild and whose household |
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income does not exceed 130 percent of the federal poverty level may |
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receive monthly monetary assistance to provide for the needs of the |
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grandchild. |
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(b) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, a |
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grandparent who is eligible for monetary assistance under the |
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program may receive a maximum of $200 each month for each grandchild |
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who is 17 years of age or younger and for whom the grandparent is |
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appointed permanent managing conservator. A grandparent may not |
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receive more than $600 each month through the program. |
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(c) To provide the monetary assistance, the department |
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shall use appropriated funds and any federal funds available for |
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that purpose. |
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(d) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules as |
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necessary to implement the program, including rules providing for: |
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(1) an application and eligibility determination |
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process; and |
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(2) the method by which the monthly monetary |
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assistance is provided to the grandparent. |
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(e) Monetary assistance may be provided under this section |
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to a grandparent in addition to any supplemental financial |
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assistance for which the grandparent is eligible under Section |
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31.0041. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2007, the executive |
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commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall |
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adopt rules for, and the Department of Family and Protective |
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Services shall implement, the grandparents as caregivers program |
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under Section 40.074, Human Resources Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |