grants for legal help when relatives take in a child

The text as introduced · 451 words

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.