81R280 KLA-D
 
  By: Uresti S.B. No. 2368
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to monetary assistance for substitute care provided to a
  child by a relative caregiver.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 264.755, Family Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  The department shall[, subject to the availability of
  funds,] enter into a caregiver assistance agreement with each
  relative or other designated caregiver to provide monetary
  assistance and additional support services to the caregiver.
  Subject to Subsection (d), the [The] monetary assistance and
  support services shall be based on a family's need, as determined by
  rules adopted by the executive commissioner, and be subject to the
  availability of funds.
         (d)  A caregiver assistance agreement entered into under
  this section between the department and a relative caregiver who
  will provide substitute care for a child for whom the department has
  been appointed managing conservator must require the department to
  pay monetary assistance to the relative caregiver during the time
  the child is in substitute care. The monetary assistance must be
  paid at a daily rate that is equal to at least 60 percent of the
  daily 24-hour residential child-care facility rate that the
  department would pay for the child if the substitute care were
  provided in a foster home, foster group home, agency foster home, or
  agency foster group home licensed or certified under Chapter 42,
  Human Resources Code.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies to a
  caregiver assistance agreement entered into on or after the
  effective date of this Act. A caregiver assistance agreement
  entered into before the effective date of this Act is governed by
  the law in effect on the date the agreement was entered into, and
  the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.