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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the transitional living services program for certain |
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youth in foster care. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 264.121(a-2) and (f), Family Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a-2) The experiential life-skills training under |
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Subsection (a-1) must include: |
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(1) a financial literacy education program developed |
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in collaboration with the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner |
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and the State Securities Board that: |
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(A) [(1)] includes instruction on: |
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(i) [(A)] obtaining and interpreting a |
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credit score; |
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(ii) [(B)] protecting, repairing, and |
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improving a credit score; |
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(iii) [(C)] avoiding predatory lending |
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practices; |
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(iv) [(D)] saving money and accomplishing |
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financial goals through prudent financial management practices; |
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(v) [(E)] using basic banking and |
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accounting skills, including balancing a checkbook; |
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(vi) [(F)] using debit and credit cards |
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responsibly; |
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(vii) [(G)] understanding a paycheck and |
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items withheld from a paycheck; [and] |
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(viii) understanding the time requirements |
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and process for filing federal taxes; |
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(ix) [(H)] protecting financial, credit, |
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and personally identifying information in personal and |
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professional relationships and online; |
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(x) forms of identity and credit theft; and |
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(xi) using insurance to protect against the |
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risk of financial loss; and |
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(B) [(2)] assists a youth who has a source of |
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income to: |
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(i) establish a savings plan and, if |
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available, a savings account that the youth can independently |
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manage; and |
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(ii) prepare a monthly budget that includes |
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the following expenses: |
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(a) rent based on the monthly rent for |
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an apartment advertised for lease during the preceding month; |
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(b) utilities based on a reasonable |
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utility bill in the area in which the youth resides; |
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(c) telephone service based on a |
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reasonable bill for telephone service in the area in which the youth |
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resides; |
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(d) Internet service based on a |
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reasonable bill for Internet service in the area in which the youth |
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resides; and |
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(e) other reasonable monthly |
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expenses; and |
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(2) for youth who are 17 years of age or older, lessons |
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related to: |
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(A) insurance, including applying for and |
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obtaining automobile insurance and residential property insurance, |
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including tenants insurance; and |
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(B) civic engagement, including the process for |
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registering to vote, the places to vote, and resources for |
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information regarding upcoming elections. |
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(f) The department shall require a person with whom the |
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department contracts for transitional living services for foster |
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youth to provide or assist youth in obtaining: |
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(1) housing services; |
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(2) job training and employment services; |
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(3) college preparation services; |
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(4) services that will assist youth in obtaining a |
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general education development certificate; |
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(5) services that will assist youth in developing |
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skills in food preparation; |
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(6) nutrition education that promotes healthy food |
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choices; |
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(7) a savings or checking account if the youth is at |
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least 18 years of age and has a source of income; |
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(8) mental health services; |
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(9) financial literacy education and civic engagement |
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lessons required under Subsection (a-2); and |
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(10) [(8)] any other appropriate transitional living |
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service identified by the department. |
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SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a person who enters into a contract with the Department of Family |
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and Protective Services to provide transitional living services for |
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foster youth on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |