89R5163 RAL-D     By: Meza H.B. No. 1473       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to monetary assistance provided by the Department of   Family and Protective Services to certain relative or designated   caregivers.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 264.752(c), Family Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (c)  The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary   to implement this subchapter. [The rules must include eligibility   criteria for receiving assistance and services under this   subchapter.]          SECTION 2.  Section 264.755, Family Code, as amended by   Chapter 315 (H.B. 4), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular   Session, 2017, is amended by reenacting and amending Subsections   (a), (b), (b-1), (c), and (f) to read as follows:          (a)  The department shall, subject to the availability of   funds, enter into a caregiver assistance agreement with each   relative or other designated caregiver to provide monetary   assistance and additional support services to the caregiver. [The   monetary assistance and support services shall be based on a   family's need, as determined by Subsection (b) and rules adopted by   the executive commissioner.]          (b)  The department shall provide monetary assistance under   this section to each relative or other designated [a] caregiver   [who has a family income that is less than or equal to 300 percent of   the federal poverty level]. Monetary assistance provided to a   caregiver under this section may not exceed 50 percent of the   department's daily basic foster care rate for the child. [A   caregiver who has a family income greater than 300 percent of the   federal poverty level is not eligible for monetary assistance under   this section.]          (b-1)  The department shall disburse monetary assistance   provided to a caregiver under Subsection (b) in the same manner as   the department disburses payments to a foster parent.  The   department may not provide monetary assistance to an eligible   caregiver under Subsection (b) after the first anniversary of the   date the caregiver receives the first monetary assistance payment   from the department under this section.  The department, at its   discretion and for good cause, may extend the monetary assistance   payments for an additional six months.          (c)  Monetary assistance and additional support services   provided under this section may include:                (1)  case management services and training and   information about the child's needs until the caregiver is   appointed permanent managing conservator;                (2)  referrals to appropriate state agencies   administering public benefits or assistance programs for which the   child, the caregiver, or the caregiver's family may qualify;                (3)  family counseling not provided under the Medicaid   program for the caregiver's family for a period not to exceed two   years from the date of initial placement;                (4)  [if the caregiver meets the eligibility criteria   determined by rules adopted by the executive commissioner,]   reimbursement of all child-care expenses incurred while the child   is under 13 years of age, or under 18 years of age if the child has a   developmental disability, and while the department is the child's   managing conservator; and                (5)  [if the caregiver meets the eligibility criteria   determined by rules adopted by the executive commissioner,]   reimbursement of 50 percent of child-care expenses incurred after   the caregiver is appointed permanent managing conservator of the   child while the child is under 13 years of age, or under 18 years of   age if the child has a developmental disability.          (f)  If a person [who has a family income that is less than or   equal to 300 percent of the federal poverty level] enters into a   caregiver assistance agreement with the department, obtains   permanent managing conservatorship of a child, and meets all other   eligibility requirements, the person may receive an annual   reimbursement of other expenses for the child, as determined by   rules adopted by the executive commissioner, not to exceed $500 per   year until the earlier of:                (1)  the third anniversary of the date the person was   awarded permanent managing conservatorship of the child; or                (2)  the child's 18th birthday.          SECTION 3.  Section 264.755(b-2), Family Code, is repealed.          SECTION 4.  Section 264.755, Family Code, as amended by this   Act, applies to a caregiver assistance agreement entered into   before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.