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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 Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsection (f) to read |
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as 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, must be at least [may not
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exceed] $1,000 for each child who is not placed as part of a sibling |
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group. 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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60th 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. The executive commissioner, with assistance from the |
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department and the commission, shall adopt a rule governing the |
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method for allocating the one-time cash payment between the |
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department and the commission. |
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(c) Monetary assistance and additional support services |
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provided under this section may include: |
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(1) case management services and training and |
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information about the child's needs until the caregiver is |
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appointed permanent managing conservator; |
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(2) referrals to appropriate state agencies |
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administering public benefits or assistance programs for which the |
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child, the caregiver, or the caregiver's family may qualify; |
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(3) family counseling not provided under the Medicaid |
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program for the caregiver's family for a period not to exceed two |
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years from the date of initial placement; |
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(4) if the caregiver meets the eligibility criteria |
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determined by rules adopted by the executive commissioner, |
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reimbursement of all child-care expenses incurred while the child |
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is under 13 years of age, or under 18 years of age if the child has a |
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developmental disability, and while the department is the child's |
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managing conservator; |
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(5) if the caregiver meets the eligibility criteria |
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determined by rules adopted by the executive commissioner, |
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reimbursement of 50 percent of child-care expenses incurred after |
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the caregiver is appointed permanent managing conservator of the |
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child while the child is under 13 years of age, or under 18 years of |
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age if the child has a developmental disability; and |
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(6) at least $500 per year for each child for |
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reimbursement of other expenses and the general care of the child, |
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as determined by rules adopted by the executive commissioner[, not
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to exceed $500 per year for each child]. |
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(f) The department shall reimburse a relative or other |
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designated caregiver annually for expenses permitted under |
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Subsection (c)(6). The department shall issue the initial |
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reimbursement as soon as possible but not later than the 180th day |
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after the date the child or sibling group is placed with the |
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relative or designated caregiver. If the department does not |
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receive an initial request for reimbursement from the relative or |
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designated caregiver before the 180th day after the date of |
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placement, the department shall: |
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(1) make a good faith effort, as part of the |
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department's regular contact with the relative or designated |
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caregiver, to request submission of the initial reimbursement |
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request; and |
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(2) issue the reimbursement as soon as possible after |
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the department receives the request for reimbursement. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Sections 264.755(b) and (c), Family Code, as |
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amended by this Act, apply only to monetary assistance with respect |
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to a child who is initially placed with a relative or other |
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designated caregiver on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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Monetary assistance with respect to a child who is initially placed |
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with a relative or other designated caregiver before that date is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date of the initial placement, |
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and the 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, 2017. |