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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to authorizing adoption assistance agreements for certain |
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children after a final adoption order is rendered. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 162.304, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (b-3) to read as follows: |
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(b-3) The department may enter into an adoption assistance |
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agreement for a child after a court has entered a final order of |
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adoption if the child: |
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(1) after the adoption is finalized, is diagnosed by |
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the child's health care provider as having special needs; and |
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(2) would have qualified for adoption assistance under |
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Subsection (a) if the child was determined to have special needs |
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before the adoption. |
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SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply to an |
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adoption for which the final order is rendered before, on, or after |
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the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. The Department of Family and Protective Services |
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is required to implement a provision of this Act only if the |
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legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If |
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the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that |
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purpose, the department may, but is not required to, implement a |
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provision of this Act using other money available for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |