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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a relative and kinship care grant program administered |
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by the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 72, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 72.03951 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 72.03951. RELATIVE AND KINSHIP CARE GRANT PROGRAM. |
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(a) Using funds appropriated or otherwise available for the |
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purpose, the office shall develop and administer a program to |
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provide grants to eligible nonprofit organizations that provide |
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legal assistance related to assuming care of a child to |
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individuals: |
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(1) who are relative or kinship caregivers of the |
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child; and |
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(2) whose incomes are at or below 400 percent of the |
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federal poverty level. |
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(b) Legal assistance under Subsection (a) includes advice, |
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consultation, or assistance that relates to: |
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(1) consent to treatment of a child by a nonparent |
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under Chapter 32, Family Code; |
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(2) authorization agreements for nonparent adult |
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caregivers of a child under Chapter 34, Family Code; |
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(3) temporary authorizations for care of a minor child |
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under Chapter 35, Family Code; |
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(4) suits affecting the parent-child relationship |
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under Title 5, Family Code; and |
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(5) any other legal documentation or proceedings |
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related to assuming care of a child. |
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(c) The office may award a grant under this section only in |
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accordance with a contract between the office and the recipient |
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that includes provisions under which the office is granted |
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sufficient control to ensure the public purpose of providing legal |
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assistance to relative or kinship caregivers is accomplished and |
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this state receives the return benefit. |
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(d) The office may accept gifts, grants, and donations for |
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the purposes of the grant program established under this section. |
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(e) The office may adopt rules to administer the grant |
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program established under this section, including rules that |
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establish: |
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(1) eligibility criteria for grant applications; |
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(2) grant application procedures; |
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(3) guidelines related to grant amounts; |
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(4) procedures for evaluating grant applications; and |
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(5) procedures for monitoring the use of a grant |
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awarded under the program and ensuring compliance with any |
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condition of the grant. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Office of Court Administration of the Texas |
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Judicial System shall adopt the rules necessary to implement |
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Section 72.03951, Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |