BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 700
87R1990 MCK-D	By: Johnson, Jarvis et al. (Zaffirini)
	Health & Human Services
	5/20/2021
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

State law provides a tuition and fee waiver for foster youth currently or formerly in Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) conservatorship and those adopted from DFPS so that they can attend a state-supported college or university at no cost to themselves. Only a fraction of those eligible for this waiver program, however, actually take advantage of the program and enroll in college.

H.B. 700 would require the development of a plan to ensure the eligibility of foster children to receive college credit for completing the Preparation for Adult Living Program. This would close the gap between availability and usage and ensure youth have the opportunity to use the waiver and can obtain college credits while still in DFPS care.

H.B. 700 amends current law relating to the eligibility of foster children to receive college credit for completing the Preparation for Adult Living Program.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 264.121(a-6), Family Code, as follows:

(a-6)  Requires the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), in coordination with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, to establish a work group to develop a plan to ensure that foster youth who complete the standardized curriculum for the Preparation for Adult Living Program are eligible to receive college credit for completing the program.� Requires that the work group include representatives from urban and rural institutions of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003 (Definitions), Education Code. Requires the work group, in developing its evidence-based recommendations, to consider the feasibility of implementing each recommendation, a foster youth's access to the Preparation for Adult Living Program, and the average length of time a foster youth will remain in a placement. Requires DFPS to report the plan to the legislature not later than November 1, 2022, rather than December 1, 2018. Provides that this subsection expires September 1, 2023. Deletes existing text requiring DFPS, in coordination with stakeholders, to develop a plan to standardize the curriculum for the Preparation for Adult Living Program that ensures that youth 14 years of age or older enrolled in the program receive relevant and age-appropriate information and training. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2021.