89R15557 AMF-D     By: A. Davis of Dallas H.B. No. 4870       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a relative and kinship care grant program administered   by the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 72, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 72.03951 to read as follows:          Sec. 72.03951.  RELATIVE AND KINSHIP CARE GRANT PROGRAM.   (a)  Using funds appropriated or otherwise available for the   purpose, the office shall develop and administer a program to   provide grants to eligible nonprofit organizations that provide   legal assistance related to assuming care of a child to   individuals:                (1)  who are relative or kinship caregivers of the   child; and                (2)  whose incomes are at or below 400 percent of the   federal poverty level.          (b)  Legal assistance under Subsection (a) includes advice,   consultation, or assistance that relates to:                (1)  consent to treatment of a child by a nonparent   under Chapter 32, Family Code;                (2)  authorization agreements for nonparent adult   caregivers of a child under Chapter 34, Family Code;                (3)  temporary authorizations for care of a minor child   under Chapter 35, Family Code;                (4)  suits affecting the parent-child relationship   under Title 5, Family Code; and                (5)  any other legal documentation or proceedings   related to assuming care of a child.          (c)  The office may award a grant under this section only in   accordance with a contract between the office and the recipient   that includes provisions under which the office is granted   sufficient control to ensure the public purpose of providing legal   assistance to relative or kinship caregivers is accomplished and   this state receives the return benefit.          (d)  The office may accept gifts, grants, and donations for   the purposes of the grant program established under this section.          (e)  The office may adopt rules to administer the grant   program established under this section, including rules that   establish:                (1)  eligibility criteria for grant applications;                (2)  grant application procedures;                (3)  guidelines related to grant amounts;                (4)  procedures for evaluating grant applications; and                (5)  procedures for monitoring the use of a grant   awarded under the program and ensuring compliance with any   condition of the grant.          SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date   of this Act, the Office of Court Administration of the Texas   Judicial System shall adopt the rules necessary to implement   Section 72.03951, Government Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 3.  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.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.