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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to monetary assistance for a relative or other designated |
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caregiver of children in foster care. |
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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 Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (f) to read |
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as follows: |
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(a) The department shall[, subject to the availability of
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funds,] enter into a caregiver assistance agreement with each |
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relative or other designated caregiver to provide monetary |
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assistance and additional support services to the caregiver. |
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Subject to Subsection (f), the [The] monetary assistance and |
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support services shall be based on a family's need, as determined by |
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rules adopted by the executive commissioner. |
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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 $2,000 |
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[$1,000] for each child. The payment for placement of a sibling |
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group must be at least $2,000 [$1,000] for the group, but may not |
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exceed $2,000 [$1,000] for each child in the group. The cash payment |
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must be provided not later than the 60th day after the date of [on] |
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the initial placement of each child with the caregiver and is |
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provided to assist the caregiver in purchasing essential child-care |
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items such as furniture and clothing. |
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(f) Monetary assistance paid to a relative or other |
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designated caregiver under a caregiver assistance agreement must be |
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paid at a daily rate that is equal to at least 50 percent of the |
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daily foster care reimbursement rate that the department would pay |
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for the child if the substitute care were provided in a foster home, |
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foster group home, agency foster home, or agency foster group home |
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licensed or certified under Chapter 42, Human Resources Code. |
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SECTION 2. Section 264.755, Family Code, as amended by this |
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Act, applies only to monetary assistance with respect to a child who |
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is initially placed with a relative or other designated caregiver |
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on or after the effective date of this Act. Monetary assistance |
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with respect to a child who is initially placed with a relative or |
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other designated caregiver before that date is governed by the law |
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in effect on the date of the initial placement, and the former law |
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is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |