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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the placement of children with certain relatives or |
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other designated caregivers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 31.0041, Human Resources Code is |
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amended by adding subsection (b), to read as follows: |
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Sec. 31.0041. SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR |
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CERTAIN PERSONS. (a) To the extent funds are appropriated for |
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this purpose, the department may provide supplemental financial |
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assistance in addition to the amount of financial assistance |
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granted for the support of a dependent child under Section 31.003 to |
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a person who: |
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(1) is 45 years of age or older; |
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(2) is the grandparent of the dependent child, as |
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defined by Section 31.002, who lives at the person's residence; |
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(3) is the primary caretaker of the dependent child; |
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(4) has a family income that is at or below 200 percent |
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of the federal poverty level; and |
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(5) does not have resources that exceed the amount |
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allowed for financial assistance under this chapter. |
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(b) Supplemental financial assistance provided to a person |
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under this section may include one or more cash payments, not to |
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exceed a total of $1,000 for each child. The payment for placement |
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of a sibling group must be a least $1,000 for the group, but may not |
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exceed $1,000 for each child in the group after determination of |
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eligibility for supplemental financial assistance under this |
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section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect August 31, 2015. |