80R7738 UM-D
 
  By: Chisum, Flynn, Zedler, Davis of Harris, H.B. No. 2683
      Brown of Kaufman, et al.
 
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to funding for programs that support the development of
healthy marriages or the strengthening of families.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Human Resources Code,
is amended by adding Sections 31.017 and 31.018 to read as follows:
       Sec. 31.017.  HEALTHY MARRIAGES AND STRONG FAMILIES GRANT
PROGRAM. (a) The Health and Human Services Commission may
administer a grant program to provide grants in amounts not to
exceed $50,000 to programs for low-income persons that support the
development of healthy marriages or strengthening of families.  The
programs may use grant money to assist those programs in enlarging
their capacity or in paying other program expenses.
       (b)  The executive commissioner of the Health and Human
Services Commission may adopt rules to implement this section.
       Sec. 31.018.  MARRIAGE AND FAMILY PROGRAM FUNDING. To the
extent authorized by federal law, the Health and Human Services
Commission shall spend a minimum of one percent of money received
under the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block
grant during each state fiscal biennium to fund programs for
low-income persons that support the development of healthy
marriages or the strengthening of families, including the healthy
marriage development program under Section 31.015 and the healthy
marriages and strong families grant program under Section 31.017.
       SECTION 2.  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 of that provision,
the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
waiver or authorization is granted.
       SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.