Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

1                                STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2                    1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
3    HOUSE BILL 2717                        By: Hefner
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6                                  AS INTRODUCED
7             An Act relating to poor persons; amending 56 O.S.
              2021, Sections 604 and 606, which relate to the
8             Family Support Program; modifying eligibility
              requirements; modifying maximum payment amount;
9             providing payment amount for first eligible child;
              and providing an effective date.
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14   BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
15       SECTION 1.       AMENDATORY     56 O.S. 2021, Section 604, is
16   amended to read as follows:
17       Section 604.    The Director of the Department of Human Services
18   shall, within the constraints of funding appropriated to the
19   Department, maintain a Family Support Program for children with
20   severe developmental disabilities who reside in their family homes
21   in accordance with the following criteria:
22       1.   The family member resides with the family;
23       2.   The family resides in the State of Oklahoma;
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     Req. No. 6761                                                       Page 1
1        3.   The gross adjusted income of the family for the year
2    immediately preceding the date of application for the assistance did
3    not exceed Forty-five Thousand Dollars ($45,000.00) Sixty-five
4    Thousand Dollars ($65,000.00);
5        4.   The family is headed by a biological parent, adoptive
6    parent, or legal guardian of the eligible family member; provided,
7    however, that if the eligible family member lives with an adoptive
8    parent or parents who already receive adoption subsidy from any
9    source on behalf of the applicant, the family cannot receive family
10   support assistance authorized by this section; and
11       5.   The family or family member does not receive Medicaid Home
12   and Community-based Waiver Services.
13       SECTION 2.     AMENDATORY      56 O.S. 2021, Section 606, is
14   amended to read as follows:
15       Section 606.   If an application for family support assistance
16   pursuant to the Oklahoma Family Support Act is approved by the
17   Department of Human Services and Developmental Disabilities Services
18   Division:
19       1.   A family support assistance payment shall be paid to the
20   parent or legal guardian on behalf of a family member and shall be
21   considered a benefit to the family member;
22       2.   The family support assistance payment shall be used to meet
23   the special needs of the family associated with the family member.
24   Except as otherwise provided in the Oklahoma Family Support Act,
     Req. No. 6761                                                      Page 2
1    this assistance payment is intended to complement, not to supplant,
2    public assistance or other social service benefits based on economic
3    need, available through governmental programs;
4        3.   The amount of the family support assistance payment shall be
5    a maximum of Four Hundred Dollars ($400.00) Eight Hundred Forty-nine
6    Dollars and Sixty-Four Cents ($849.64) per month.    Increases to this
7    amount shall be determined annually by legislative appropriation.
8    In addition, the parent or legal guardian of a family member who is
9    in an out-of-home placement at the time of application may receive a
10   one-time, lump-sum advance payment of twice the monthly family
11   support assistance amount for the purpose of meeting the special
12   needs of the family to prepare for the placement or return of the
13   family member to in-home care.
14       The amount of the family support assistance payment for the
15   first eligible child shall be Five Hundred Twenty-seven Dollars and
16   Seventy-Five Cents ($527.75).
17       4.   The parent or legal guardian who receives a family support
18   assistance payment shall report, in writing, at least the following
19   information to the Department:
20            a.     not less than annually, a statement and any supporting
21                   documentation requested by the Department that the
22                   family support assistance payment was used to meet the
23                   special needs of the family,
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     Req. No. 6761                                                     Page 3
1            b.      immediately, if the parent or legal guardian requests
2                    termination of the family support assistance,
3            c.      immediately, upon the occurrence of any event listed
4                    in Section 7 607 of this act title.
5       SECTION 3.     This act shall become effective November 1, 2023.
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7       59-1-6761        CMA     01/16/23
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     Req. No. 6761                                                    Page 4