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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the requirements for the issuance of identification |
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documentation for foster care youth. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 191, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 191.0049 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 191.0049. BIRTH RECORD ISSUED TO FOSTER CHILD; PILOT |
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PROGRAM. (a) In this section, "foster child" means a person who is |
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16 years of age or older and in the managing conservatorship of the |
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Department of Family and Protective Services. |
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(b) On request of a foster child, the state registrar, a |
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local registrar, or a county clerk shall issue, without a fee, a |
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certified copy of the foster child's birth record. |
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(c) The department shall participate in a foster child |
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identification verification pilot program for the purpose of |
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issuing birth records to foster children. |
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(d) Under the pilot program, the department may: |
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(1) enter into a memorandum of understanding with the |
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Department of Family and Protective Services to establish an |
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identification verification process for foster children; and |
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(2) issue a birth certificate to a foster child whose |
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identity has been confirmed through the verification process. |
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(e) At the conclusion of the pilot program, the |
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participating agencies may agree to continue the pilot program on a |
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permanent basis. |
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(f) Not later than January 1, 2019, the department and the |
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Department of Family and Protective Services shall jointly issue a |
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report to the legislature addressing the status and effectiveness |
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of the pilot program. This subsection expires September 1, 2019. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 521, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 521.1015 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 521.1015. PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION CERTIFICATE ISSUED |
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TO FOSTER CHILD. (a) In this section, "foster child" means a |
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person who is 16 years of age or older and in the managing |
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conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective |
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Services. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Section 521.101, Section 521.1426, or |
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any other provision of this chapter, a foster child may, in applying |
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for a personal identification certificate: |
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(1) provide a copy of the foster child's birth |
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certificate or a copy of the foster child's social security card as |
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proof of the foster child's identity and United States citizenship, |
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as applicable; and |
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(2) use the address of the regional office where the |
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Department of Family and Protective Services caseworker for the |
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foster child is based, if the foster child: |
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(A) does not have a residence or domicile; or |
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(B) cannot show proof of the foster child's |
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residence or domicile. |
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(c) A foster child may apply for and the department may |
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issue a personal identification certificate without the signature |
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or presence of or permission from a parent or guardian of the foster |
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child. |
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(d) A foster child is exempt from the payment of any fee for |
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the issuance of a personal identification certificate under this |
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chapter. |
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SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a request for a birth record or an application for a personal |
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identification certificate submitted on or after the effective date |
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of this Act. A request for a birth record or an application for a |
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personal identification certificate submitted before the effective |
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date of this Act is governed by the law as it existed immediately |
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before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |