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  S.B. No. 1589
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to assistance and education regarding personal finance for
  certain children in foster care.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 264.121, Family Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a-1) and (f) and adding Subsection (a-2) to
  read as follows:
         (a-1)  The department shall require a foster care provider to
  provide or assist youth who are age 14 or older in obtaining
  experiential life-skills training to improve their transition to
  independent living.  Experiential life-skills training must be
  tailored to a youth's skills and abilities and may include training
  in practical activities that include grocery shopping, meal
  preparation and cooking, using public transportation, and 
  performing basic household tasks[, and balancing a checkbook].
         (a-2)  The experiential life-skills training under
  Subsection (a-1) must include a financial literacy education
  program that:
               (1)  includes instruction on:
                     (A)  obtaining and interpreting a credit score;
                     (B)  protecting, repairing, and improving a
  credit score;
                     (C)  avoiding predatory lending practices;
                     (D)  saving money and accomplishing financial
  goals through prudent financial management practices;
                     (E)  using basic banking and accounting skills,
  including balancing a checkbook;
                     (F)  using debit and credit cards responsibly;
                     (G)  understanding a paycheck and items withheld
  from a paycheck; and
                     (H)  protecting financial, credit, and
  identifying information in personal and professional
  relationships; and
               (2)  assists a youth who has a source of income to
  establish a savings plan and, if available, a savings account that
  the youth can independently manage.
         (f)  The department shall require a person with whom the
  department contracts for transitional living services for foster
  youth to provide or assist youth in obtaining:
               (1)  housing services;
               (2)  job training and employment services;
               (3)  college preparation services;
               (4)  services that will assist youth in obtaining a
  general education development certificate; [and]
               (5)  a savings or checking account if the youth is at
  least 18 years of age and has a source of income; and
               (6)  any other appropriate transitional living service
  identified by the department.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1589 passed the Senate on
  April 25, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 26, Nays 2.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1589 passed the House on
  May 8, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 147, Nays 0, two present
  not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor