AN ACT relating to funding for programs that support the development of healthy marriages or the strengthening of families.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 SECTION 1.

Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Sections 31.017 and 31.018 to read as follows:

Sec. 31.017. HEALTHY MARRIAGES AND STRONG FAMILIES GRANT PROGRAM.

(a) The Health and Human Services Commission may administer a grant program to provide grants in amounts not to exceed $50,000 to programs that provide marriage education services and support the development of healthy marriages or strengthening of families. Grant recipients may use grant money to provide direct services to participants, develop a program, enlarge program capacity, or pay other program expenses, including provider training and technical assistance expenses.

(b) In selecting grant recipients, the Health and Human Services Commission shall give preference to applicants:
(1) whose programs will contribute to the geographic diversity of program locations; or
(2) who operate small programs, but who seek to maximize service delivery and build capacity.

(c) The Health and Human Services Commission shall require that each grant recipient provide program services at no cost to participants.

(d) The Health and Human Services Commission may contract with private entities to provide marriage education training and curriculum, technical assistance, and other support to grant recipients. In selecting entities to provide these services, the commission shall consider whether a prospective provider has knowledge and understanding of the needs of grant recipients operating programs in different areas of this state.

(e) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission may adopt rules to implement this section.

Sec. 31.018. MARRIAGE AND FAMILY PROGRAM FUNDING.

(a) To the extent authorized by federal law, the Health and Human Services Commission shall spend a minimum of one percent of money received under the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant during each state fiscal year to fund programs that support the development of healthy marriages or the strengthening of families, including the healthy marriage development program under Section 31.015 and the healthy marriages and strong families grant program under Section 31.017.

(b) Using not more than 10 percent of the money required to be spent as provided by Subsection (a), the Health and Human Services Commission, through a contract or agreement with a public senior college or university, as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, shall establish a process for evaluating the best practices and outcomes of programs funded under Subsection (a).

SECTION 2.

If before implementing any provision of this Act a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the waiver or authorization is granted.

SECTION 3.

This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 2683 was passed by the House on April 12, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 103, Nays 36, 1 present, not voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. No. 2683 on May 15, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 130, Nays 11, 2 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 2683 was passed by the Senate, with amendments, on May 11, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 5.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate

APPROVED: __________________

Date

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Governor