80R7738 UM-D

By: Chisum H.B. No. 2683

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.