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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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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 for low-income persons that support the |
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development of healthy marriages or strengthening of families. The |
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programs may use grant money to assist those programs in enlarging |
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their capacity or in paying other program expenses. |
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(b) 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. To the |
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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 biennium to fund programs for |
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low-income persons that support the development of healthy |
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marriages or the strengthening of families, including the healthy |
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marriage development program under Section 31.015 and the healthy |
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marriages and strong families grant program under Section 31.017. |
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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. |