TITLE: Relating to placement of children with certain relatives or other designated caregivers.

SUMMARY: Relating to placement of children with certain relatives or other designated caregivers.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to placement of children with certain relatives or other designated caregivers. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Human Resources Code is amended by adding a the following: Sec. 31.0041. SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN PERSONS. (a) To the extent funds are appropriated for this purpose, the department may provide supplemental financial assistance in addition to the amount of financial assistance granted for the support of a dependent child under Section 31.003 to a person who: (1) is 45 years of age or older; (2) is the grandparent of the dependent child, as defined by Section 31.002, who lives at the person's residence; (3) is the primary caretaker of the dependent child; (4) has a family income that is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level; and (5) does not have resources that exceed the amount allowed for financial assistance under this chapter. (b) Supplemental financial assistance provided to a person under this section may include one or more cash payments, not to exceed a total of $1,000 for each child. The payment for placement of a sibling group must be a least $1,000 for the group, but may not exceed $1,000 for each child in the group after determination of eligibility for supplemental financial assistance under this section. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.