BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 3559

By: Swanson

Human Services

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Interested parties contend that the processes by which a foster parent may be reimbursed for the monetary expenses for a foster child obtaining a driver's license and the required motor vehicle liability insurance are too vague and complicated. The parties have expressed a need for streamlining these processes. C.S.H.B. 3559 seeks to address this issue by requiring the Department of Family and Protective Services to reimburse foster parents and former foster children for certain expenses associated with a foster child or former foster child obtaining or renewing a driver's license and obtaining insurance, as applicable.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS

 

C.S.H.B. 3559 amends the Family Code to require the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to reimburse a foster parent for any monetary expenses relating to obtaining a driver's license for a foster child and liability insurance for the foster child that meets the minimum requirements of the Texas Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act. The bill requires DFPS to reimburse a former foster child younger than 21 years of age who was in the conservatorship of DFPS on the day preceding the former foster child's 18th birthday for any monetary expenses relating to obtaining or renewing a driver's license and obtaining liability insurance that meets those minimum requirements. The bill requires a person entitled to reimbursement for those expenses under the bill's provisions to provide DFPS with receipts for the expenses to receive reimbursement.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2017.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

 

While C.S.H.B. 3559 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

 

INTRODUCED

HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is amended by adding Section 264.1252 to read as follows:

Sec. 264.1252.  REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES RELATING TO OBTAINING A DRIVER'S LICENSE.  (a)  The department shall reimburse a foster parent for any monetary expenses relating to obtaining a driver's license for a foster child, including the cost for completing a driver education course required by Section 521.1601, Transportation Code, the driver's license fee, and the cost of liability insurance that meets the minimum requirements of Subchapter D, Chapter 601, Transportation Code.

 

 

 

(b)  The department shall reimburse a former foster child younger than 21 years of age for the expenses paid by the former foster child to renew a driver's license and to obtain liability insurance that meets the minimum requirements of Subchapter D, Chapter 601, Transportation Code.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(c)  A person entitled to reimbursement for expenses under this section must provide the department with receipts for the expenses to receive reimbursement.

 

SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is amended by adding Section 264.1252 to read as follows:

Sec. 264.1252.  REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES RELATING TO OBTAINING OR RENEWING A DRIVER'S LICENSE AND OBTAINING INSURANCE.  (a)  The department shall reimburse a foster parent for any monetary expenses relating to obtaining:

(1)  a driver's license for a foster child, including the cost for completing a driver education course required by Section 521.1601, Transportation Code, and the driver's license fee; and

(2)  liability insurance for the foster child that meets the minimum requirements of Subchapter D, Chapter 601, Transportation Code.

(b)  The department shall reimburse a former foster child younger than 21 years of age for any monetary expenses relating to:

(1)  obtaining or renewing a driver's license, including the cost for completing a driver education course required by Section 521.1601, Transportation Code, and the driver's license fee; and

(2)  obtaining liability insurance that meets the minimum requirements of Subchapter D, Chapter 601, Transportation Code.

(c)  Subsection (b) applies only to a former foster child who was in the conservatorship of the department on the day preceding the former foster child's 18th birthday.

(d)  A person entitled to reimbursement for expenses under this section must provide the department with receipts for the expenses to receive reimbursement.

 

No equivalent provision.

 

SECTION 2.  Section 264.1252, Family Code, as added by this Act, applies only to an expense relating to obtaining a driver's license or insurance for a foster child or obtaining or renewing a driver's license or obtaining insurance for a former foster child incurred on or after the effective date of this Act.

 

SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.

SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.