House of Representatives

HB 2424

TANF; foster care payments

Sponsors: Rep. Landrum, Foster, Lopez L, Weason, et al.

dpa	Committee on Human Services
DP	Committee on Appropriations
DPA	Committee on Appropriations (On re-referral)
X	Caucus and COW
	As Passed the House

HB 2424 establishes that Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance payments will be paid to the grandparent caring for the child if the grandparent is a kinship foster care parent.

Provisions

· Declares that if a grandparent caring for a child is a kinship foster care parent then the Department of Economic Security shall pay TANF cash assistance payments identical to foster care payments.

HB 2424 was amended in the Human Services Committee by stipulating that TANF payments will equal $250.00 each month for each child, not to exceed DES expenditures of $3.5 million in each fiscal year.

HB 2424 was amended in the Appropriations Committee as follows:

· Strikes the original language in the bill stating that if a grandparent caring for a child is a kinship foster care parent then the Department of Economic Security shall pay TANF cash assistance payments identical to foster care payments. That language is replaced with new language stating that if the kinship foster care parent is a grandparent of the child, DES shall make TANF cash assistance payments to the grandparent in addition to full foster care benefits and child-only case and supplemental financial support programs if the grandparent is eligible. The amount of the payment per child can be no greater than $250 per month including any TANF payments received except when appropriated monies are insufficient. If monies appropriated are insufficient to pay that amount, then payments shall be pro-rated.

· Appropriated $2 million in TANF monies in each of the FY 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 to DES for the purposes of the bill.

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· 44th Legislature

· Second Regular Session 2 March 15, 2001

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