By: Toth H.B. No. 966       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to notice regarding certain benefits for which a   representative payee or fiduciary has been appointed for a child in   the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective   Services.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 264, Family Code, is   amended by adding Section 264.0112 to read as follows:          Sec. 264.0112.  NOTICE REGARDING CERTAIN BENEFITS FOR WHICH   DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN APPOINTED REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE OR FIDUCIARY FOR   CHILD. (a) In this section, "legal representative" means the   child's attorney, the child's attorney ad litem, or another   individual appointed by a court to represent the legal interests of   the child.          (b)  For a child in the department's conservatorship who   receives or is eligible to receive benefits or services for which a   representative payee or fiduciary is required, the department shall   immediately provide notice to the child through the child's legal   representative regarding:                (1)  any application for United States Department of   Veterans Affairs benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI)   benefits under 42 U.S.C. Section 1381 et seq., or Social Security   Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits under 42 U.S.C. Section 401 et   seq. made on the child's behalf;                (2)  if the department serves as the representative   payee or in any other fiduciary capacity for the child, any   application to become representative payee for the child's United   States Department of Veterans Affairs benefits, Supplemental   Security Income (SSI) benefits under 42 U.S.C. Section 1381 et   seq., or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits under   42 U.S.C. Section 401 et seq.;                (3)  any decisions or communications from the United   States Department of Veterans Affairs or the Social Security   Administration regarding an application described by Subdivision   (1); and                (4)  any appeal or other action requested by the   department regarding an application for benefits described by   Subdivision (1).          (c)  If the department serves as the representative payee or   otherwise receives United States Department of Veterans Affairs   benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits under 42   U.S.C. Section 1381 et seq., or Social Security Disability   Insurance (SSDI) benefits under 42 U.S.C. Section 401 et seq. on the   child's behalf, the department shall provide the following   information to the child through the child's legal representative   before each placement review hearing:                (1)  the amount of benefit funds received on the child's   behalf since the most recent notification to the child's legal   representative and the date the benefits were received;                (2)  information regarding the child's assets and   resources, including the child's benefits, insurance, cash assets,   trust accounts, earnings, and other resources;                (3)  an accounting of the disbursement of benefit   funds, including the date, amount, and identification of the payee;   and                (4)  information regarding each request by the court   appointed special advocate for the child, the child's legal   representative, or the child's caregiver for disbursement of funds   and a statement regarding the department's reason for not granting   the request if the request was not granted.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.