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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to monetary assistance provided by the Department of |
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Family and Protective Services to certain relatives and designated |
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caregivers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 264.755, Family Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (f) to read as |
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follows: |
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(b) Monetary assistance provided under this section must |
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include a one-time cash payment to the caregiver on the initial |
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placement of a child or a sibling group. The amount of the cash |
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payment, as determined by the department, may not exceed $1,000 for |
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each child. The payment for placement of a sibling group must be at |
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least $1,000 for the group, but may not exceed $1,000 for each child |
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in the group. The cash payment must be provided not later than the |
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30th day after the date of [on] the initial placement of each child |
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with the caregiver and is provided to assist the caregiver in |
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purchasing essential child-care items such as furniture and |
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clothing. |
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(f) The department shall reimburse a relative or other |
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designated caregiver for expenses permitted under Subsection |
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(c)(6) every six months following the date the child is placed with |
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the relative or designated caregiver if the department receives a |
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request for reimbursement for the preceding six months. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Section 264.755(b), Family Code, as amended |
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by this Act, applies only to monetary assistance with respect to a |
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child who is initially placed with a relative or other designated |
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caregiver on or after the effective date of this Act. Monetary |
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assistance with respect to a child who is initially placed with a |
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relative or other designated caregiver before that date is governed |
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by the law in effect on the date of the initial placement, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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(b) Section 264.755(f), Family Code, as added by this Act, |
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applies only to the reimbursement of a relative or other designated |
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caregiver for expenses for which a completed request for |
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reimbursement is submitted to the Department of Family and |
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Protective Services on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |