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AN ACT
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relating to funding for programs that support the development of |
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healthy marriages or the strengthening of families. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Sections 31.017 and 31.018 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 31.017. HEALTHY MARRIAGES AND STRONG FAMILIES GRANT |
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PROGRAM. (a) The Health and Human Services Commission may |
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administer a grant program to provide grants in amounts not to |
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exceed $50,000 to programs that provide marriage education services |
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and support the development of healthy marriages or strengthening |
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of families. Grant recipients may use grant money to provide direct |
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services to participants, develop a program, enlarge program |
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capacity, or pay other program expenses, including provider |
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training and technical assistance expenses. |
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(b) In selecting grant recipients, the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall give preference to applicants: |
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(1) whose programs will contribute to the geographic |
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diversity of program locations; or |
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(2) who operate small programs, but who seek to |
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maximize service delivery and build capacity. |
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(c) The Health and Human Services Commission shall require |
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that each grant recipient provide program services at no cost to |
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participants. |
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(d) The Health and Human Services Commission may contract |
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with private entities to provide marriage education training and |
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curriculum, technical assistance, and other support to grant |
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recipients. In selecting entities to provide these services, the |
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commission shall consider whether a prospective provider has |
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knowledge and understanding of the needs of grant recipients |
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operating programs in different areas of this state. |
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(e) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission may adopt rules to implement this section. |
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Sec. 31.018. MARRIAGE AND FAMILY PROGRAM FUNDING. (a) To |
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the extent authorized by federal law, the Health and Human Services |
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Commission shall spend a minimum of one percent of money received |
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under the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block |
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grant during each state fiscal year to fund programs that support |
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the development of healthy marriages or the strengthening of |
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families, including the healthy marriage development program under |
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Section 31.015 and the healthy marriages and strong families grant |
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program under Section 31.017. |
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(b) Using not more than 10 percent of the money required to |
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be spent as provided by Subsection (a), the Health and Human |
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Services Commission, through a contract or agreement with a public |
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senior college or university, as defined by Section 61.003, |
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Education Code, shall establish a process for evaluating the best |
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practices and outcomes of programs funded under Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 2. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
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a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
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federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
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the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
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authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
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waiver or authorization is granted. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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____________________________________________________________ |
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President of the SenateSpeaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2683 was passed by the House on April |
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12, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 103, Nays 36, 1 present, not |
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voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
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No. 2683 on May 15, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 130, Nays 11, |
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2 present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2683 was passed by the Senate, with |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2683 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 11, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays |
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5. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |