By: Zaffirini, Uresti S.B. No. 1589
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to assistance and education regarding personal finance for
  certain children in foster care.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 264.121, Family Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a-1) and (f) and adding Subsection (a-2) to
  read as follows:
         (a-1)  The department shall require a foster care provider to
  provide or assist youth who are age 14 or older in obtaining
  experiential life-skills training to improve their transition to
  independent living.  Experiential life-skills training must be
  tailored to a youth's skills and abilities and may include training
  in practical activities that include grocery shopping, meal
  preparation and cooking, using public transportation, and 
  performing basic household tasks[, and balancing a checkbook].
         (a-2)  The experiential life-skills training under
  Subsection (a-1) must include a financial literacy education
  program that:
               (1)  includes instruction on:
                     (A)  obtaining and interpreting a credit score;
                     (B)  protecting, repairing, and improving a
  credit score;
                     (C)  avoiding predatory lending practices;
                     (D)  saving money and accomplishing financial
  goals through prudent financial management practices;
                     (E)  using basic banking and accounting skills,
  including balancing a checkbook;
                     (F)  using debit and credit cards responsibly;
                     (G)  understanding a paycheck and items withheld
  from a paycheck; and
                     (H)  protecting financial, credit, and
  identifying information in personal and professional
  relationships; and
               (2)  assists a youth who has a source of income to
  establish a savings plan and, if available, a savings account that
  the youth can independently manage.
         (f)  The department shall require a person with whom the
  department contracts for transitional living services for foster
  youth to provide or assist youth in obtaining:
               (1)  housing services;
               (2)  job training and employment services;
               (3)  college preparation services;
               (4)  services that will assist youth in obtaining a
  general education development certificate; [and]
               (5)  a savings or checking account if the youth is at
  least 18 years of age and has a source of income; and
               (6)  any other appropriate transitional living service
  identified by the department.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.