| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Neutral | Neutral | Positive | Positive | Neutral |
Relating to the ability of certain relative caretakers of dependent children to receive supplemental financial assistance and be assigned as protective payees for financial assistance payments.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
SB 263 would lower the age requirement from 45 years of age to 25 years of age for a relative caregiver to be eligible to receive financial assistance in supporting an eligible dependent child. The bill would also expand the category of family members to qualify for this assistance by now including aunts, uncles, sisters, or brothers. To qualify to serve as a protective payee of a child receiving financial assistance, a person would have to be at least 25 years of age.
SB 263 would expand the pool of relative caregivers able to receive financial assistance for taking care of a dependent child. This would likely reduce the number of children who enter the foster care system, ensuring that more children remain in the care of family members and fewer children enter the conservatorship of the state. Texas Action supports SB 263.