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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the Texas Adoption Assistance |
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Program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 162, Family Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter I to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER I. TEXAS ADOPTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM |
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Sec. 162.751. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Adoption assistance grant" means a Texas Adoption |
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Assistance Program grant awarded under Section 162.755. |
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(2) "Comptroller" means the comptroller of public |
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accounts. |
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(3) "Eligible parent" means a parent who meets the |
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requirements of Section 162.753. |
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(4) "Program" means the Texas Adoption Assistance |
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Program established under this subchapter. |
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Sec. 162.752. PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION; |
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PURPOSE. The comptroller shall establish and administer the Texas |
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Adoption Assistance Program for the purpose of encouraging the |
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adoption of Texas children by providing adoptive parents with |
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assistance with adoption-related expenses. |
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Sec. 162.753. ELIGIBILITY OF PARENTS. A person is eligible |
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for an adoption assistance grant under the program if the person: |
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(1) resides in this state on the date the adoption |
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assistance grant is awarded; |
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(2) is an adoptive parent under an adoption granted |
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under Section 162.016 of a child who: |
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(A) is younger than 18 years of age on September 1 |
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of the state fiscal year in which the adoption assistance grant is |
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awarded; |
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(B) resided in this state as part of this state's |
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foster care system; and |
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(C) is not the biological child of the adoptive |
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parent's spouse; |
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(3) applies for a grant under Section 162.755 not |
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later than the first anniversary of the date the adoption under |
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Section 162.016 is granted; and |
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(4) has an annual gross household income that is not |
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more than $250,000. |
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Sec. 162.754. MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF GRANT. (a) The maximum |
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amount of an adoption assistance grant is: |
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(1) for an eligible parent or parents with an annual |
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gross household income of not more than $100,000, an amount equal to |
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50 percent of the amount of any adoption-related expenses incurred |
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by the parent or parents; |
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(2) for an eligible parent or parents with an annual |
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gross household income of more than $100,000 and not more than |
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$150,000, an amount equal to 40 percent of the amount of any |
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adoption-related expenses incurred by the parent or parents; |
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(3) for an eligible parent or parents with an annual |
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gross household income of more than $150,000 and not more than |
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$200,000, an amount equal to 25 percent of the amount of any |
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adoption-related expenses incurred by the parent or parents; and |
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(4) for an eligible parent or parents with an annual |
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gross household income of more than $200,000 and not more than |
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$250,000, an amount equal to 10 percent of the amount of any |
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adoption-related expenses incurred by the parent or parents. |
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(b) For purposes of this section, adoption-related expenses |
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are expenses incurred by the parent or parents for: |
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(1) legal fees for adoption paperwork; |
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(2) hiring legal representation; |
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(3) a home study under Section 264.207; |
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(4) adoption advertisements; |
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(5) adoption fees; |
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(6) medical expenses of the birth mother; |
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(7) case management; or |
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(8) communication support, in the case of an open |
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adoption. |
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Sec. 162.755. APPLICATION; AWARD OF GRANTS. Each state |
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fiscal year, the comptroller shall award under the program a number |
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of one-time adoption assistance grants, as determined by the |
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comptroller based on available funds, to eligible parents who apply |
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to the comptroller in the manner prescribed by comptroller rule. |
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Sec. 162.756. COLLABORATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES. (a) The |
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comptroller shall collaborate with the Health and Human Services |
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Commission and the Department of Family and Protective Services to |
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promote the program to families, adoption agencies, hospitals, |
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faith-based organizations, and other applicable stakeholders. |
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(b) The Department of Family and Protective Services shall |
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provide information about the program in adoption materials and in |
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meetings with prospective adoptive parents. |
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Sec. 162.757. RULES; PROCEDURES. (a) The comptroller |
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shall adopt rules and procedures to implement and administer this |
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subchapter, including rules for: |
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(1) the application process; and |
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(2) the process for documenting expenses made under |
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the program. |
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(b) The Health and Human Services Commission and the |
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Department of Family and Protective Services may adopt rules to |
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assist the comptroller in administering the program. |
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Sec. 162.758. REPORT. (a) Not later than December 1, 2026, |
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the comptroller, in consultation with the Health and Human Services |
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Commission and the Department of Family and Protective Services, |
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shall submit to the legislature a report on the outcomes and status |
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of the program. The report must include any recommendations for |
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future needs of the program. |
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(b) This section expires January 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |