By: Dukes (Senate Sponsor - West) H.B. No. 2370

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 4, 2011; May 5, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human Services; May 13, 2011, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 13, 2011, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to certain notice to applicants to provide care under the permanency care assistance program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter K, Chapter 264, Family Code, is amended by adding Section 264.8521 to read as follows:

Sec. 264.8521. NOTICE TO APPLICANTS. At the time a person applies to become licensed by the department or verified by a licensed child-placing agency or the department to provide foster care in order to qualify for the permanency care assistance program, the department or the child-placing agency shall:

(1) notify the applicant that a background check, including a criminal history record check, will be conducted on the individual; and

(2) inform the applicant about criminal convictions that:

(A) preclude an individual from becoming a licensed foster home or verified agency foster home; and

(B) may also be considered in evaluating the individual's application.

SECTION 2. Section 264.8521, Family Code, as added by this Act, applies to an application to become a licensed foster home or verified agency foster home filed with the Department of Family and Protective Services or a child-placing agency on or after the effective date of this Act. An application to become a licensed foster home or verified agency foster home filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before that date, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.

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