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