Bill Text: TX SB545 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the licensing of relative or other designated caregivers by the Department of Family and Protective Services and monetary assistance provided to certain relative or designated caregivers.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2025-02-03 - Referred to Health & Human Services [SB545 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-SB545-Introduced.html
| 89R3093 MM-D | ||
| By: Menéndez | S.B. No. 545 | |
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| relating to the licensing of relative or other designated | ||
| caregivers by the Department of Family and Protective Services and | ||
| monetary assistance provided to certain relative or designated | ||
| caregivers. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Sections 264.755(a) and (a-1), Family Code, are | ||
| amended to read as follows: | ||
| (a) Except as provided by Section 264.760(b), the [ |
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| 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. | ||
| (a-1) When a relative or other designated caregiver enters | ||
| into a caregiver assistance agreement under Subsection (a), the | ||
| department shall inform the caregiver of: | ||
| (1) the option to become verified by a licensed | ||
| child-placing agency to operate an agency foster home, if | ||
| applicable; [ |
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| (2) the licensing procedures provided under Section | ||
| 42.0539, Human Resources Code; and | ||
| (3) the permanency care assistance program under | ||
| Subchapter K. | ||
| SECTION 2. Section 264.760, Family Code, is amended to read | ||
| as follows: | ||
| Sec. 264.760. ELIGIBILITY FOR FOSTER CARE PAYMENTS AND | ||
| PERMANENCY CARE ASSISTANCE. (a) Notwithstanding any other | ||
| provision of this subchapter, a relative or other designated | ||
| caregiver [ |
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| provided by this subchapter if the caregiver: | ||
| (1) becomes verified by a licensed child-placing | ||
| agency to operate an agency foster home under Chapter 42, Human | ||
| Resources Code; or | ||
| (2) obtains a license under Section 42.0539, Human | ||
| Resources Code. | ||
| (b) The relative or other designated caregiver may receive | ||
| foster care payments under this section[ |
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| month in which the [ |
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| licensed or is verified. | ||
| SECTION 3. Section 264.852, Family Code, is amended by | ||
| adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: | ||
| (a-1) A kinship provider who receives foster care payments | ||
| as provided by Section 264.760 is not eligible for permanency care | ||
| assistance benefits under this subchapter. | ||
| SECTION 4. Subchapter C, Chapter 42, Human Resources Code, | ||
| is amended by adding Section 42.0539 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 42.0539. LICENSE FOR RELATIVE AND DESIGNATED | ||
| CAREGIVERS. (a) The executive commissioner by rule shall adopt a | ||
| procedure to issue a license to a relative or other designated | ||
| caregiver, as defined by Section 264.751, Family Code, that allows | ||
| the caregiver to receive foster care payments under Section | ||
| 264.760, Family Code. | ||
| (b) The procedure must require the caregiver to meet the | ||
| basic safety requirements provided by the executive commissioner | ||
| rule to ensure the safety of the child. | ||
| SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. | ||
