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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to providing certain documents and training to children in |
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the conservatorship of the state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 264.014, Family Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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Sec. 264.014. PROVISION OF COPIES OF CERTAIN RECORDS. |
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(a) If, at the time a child is discharged from foster care, the |
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child is at least 18 years of age or has had the disabilities of |
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minority removed, the department shall provide to the child, not |
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later than the 30th day before [after] the date the child is |
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discharged from foster care, a copy of: |
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(1) the child's birth certificate; |
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(2) the child's immunization records; and |
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(3) the information contained in the child's health |
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passport. |
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(b) The department shall ensure that a child who is being |
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discharged from foster care obtains, not later than the 30th day |
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before the date the child is discharged from foster care: |
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(1) a personal identification certificate under |
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Chapter 521, Transportation Code; |
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(2) a social security card or a replacement social |
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security card, if appropriate; and |
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(3) proof of enrollment in Medicaid, if appropriate. |
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SECTION 2. (a) The Department of Family and Protective |
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Services, in cooperation with the Texas Education Agency and the |
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Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas, shall develop a |
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plan to ensure that each child in conservatorship of the department |
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is provided the opportunity to complete a driver's education course |
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and to obtain a driver's license before the child leaves |
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conservatorship. |
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(b) Not later than December 1, 2010, the Department of |
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Family and Protective Services shall report to the legislature the |
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results of the plan under Subsection (a) of this section. The |
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report must include cost estimates for providing the driver's |
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education and methods for obtaining affordable liability insurance |
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for foster children. |
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SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act to Section |
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264.014, Family Code, apply to any child in the conservatorship of |
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the state on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |