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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the transitional living services program for certain |
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youth in foster care. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 264.121, Family Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a-1) and (f) and adding Subsection (g) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a-1) The department shall require a foster care provider to |
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provide or assist youth who are age 14 or older in obtaining |
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experiential life-skills training to improve their transition to |
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independent living. Experiential life-skills training must be |
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tailored to a youth's skills and abilities and must [may] include |
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training in practical activities that include grocery shopping, |
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meal preparation and cooking, [using public transportation,] |
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performing basic household tasks, [and] balancing a checkbook, and, |
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when appropriate, using public transportation. |
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(f) The department shall require a person with whom the |
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department contracts for transitional living services for foster |
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youth to provide or assist youth in obtaining: |
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(1) housing services; |
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(2) job training and employment services; |
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(3) college preparation services; |
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(4) services that will assist youth in obtaining a |
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general education development certificate; [and] |
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(5) services that will assist youth in developing |
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skills in food preparation; |
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(6) nutrition education that promotes healthy food |
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choices; and |
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(7) [(5)] any other appropriate transitional living |
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service identified by the department. |
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(g) An entity with which the department contracts for |
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transitional living services for foster youth shall, when |
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appropriate, partner with a community-based organization to assist |
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the entity in providing the transitional living services. |
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SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a person who enters into a contract with the Department of Family |
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and Protective Services to provide transitional living services for |
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foster youth on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |