Sec. 31.015. HEALTHY MARRIAGE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. (a) Subject to available federal funding, the commission shall develop and implement a healthy marriage development program for recipients of financial assistance under this chapter.
(b) The healthy marriage development program shall promote and provide three instructional courses on the following topics:
(1) premarital counseling for engaged couples and marriage counseling for married couples that includes skill development for:
(A) anger resolution;
(B) family violence prevention;
(C) communication;
(D) honoring your spouse; and
(E) managing a budget;
(2) physical fitness and active lifestyles and nutrition and cooking, including:
(A) abstinence for all unmarried persons, including abstinence for persons who have previously been married; and
(B) nutrition on a budget; and
(3) parenting skills, including parenting skills for character development, academic success, and stepchildren.
(c) The commission shall provide to a recipient of financial assistance under this chapter additional financial assistance of not more than $20 for the recipient's participation in a course offered through the healthy marriage development program up to a maximum payment of $60 a month.
(d) The commission may provide the courses or may contract with any person, including a community or faith-based organization, for the provision of the courses. The commission must provide all participants with an option of attending courses in a non-faith-based organization.
(e) The executive commissioner shall develop rules as necessary for the administration of the healthy marriage development program.
(f) The commission must ensure that the courses provided by the commission and courses provided through contracts with other organizations will be sensitive to the needs of individuals from different religions, races, and genders.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 198, Sec. 2.91, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Amended by:
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 4.061, eff. April 2, 2015.
Structure Texas Statutes
Title 2 - Human Services and Protective Services in General
Subtitle C - Assistance Programs
Chapter 31 - Financial Assistance and Service Programs
Subchapter A. Eligibility for Financial Assistance and Services
Section 31.001. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Section 31.002. Definition of Dependent Child
Section 31.0021. Definition of Nonrecipient Parent
Section 31.003. Amount of Financial Assistance
Section 31.0031. Responsibility Agreement
Section 31.0032. Payment of Assistance for Performance
Section 31.0033. Good Cause Hearing for Failure to Cooperate
Section 31.00331. Additional Penalty for Continuous Failure to Cooperate
Section 31.0035. Transitional Child-Care Services
Section 31.0036. Dependent Child's Income
Section 31.0038. Temporary Exclusion of New Spouse's Income
Section 31.0039. Exclusion of Assets in Prepaid Tuition Programs and Higher Education Savings Plans
Section 31.0041. Supplemental Financial Assistance for Certain Persons
Section 31.005. Dependent Child Residing With Relatives
Section 31.0051. Minor Parent Residing With Relatives
Section 31.006. Welfare and Related Services
Section 31.0065. Time-Limited Benefits
Section 31.0066. Hardship Exemptions From Federal Time Limits
Section 31.007. Financial Assistance to Individuals in Institutions
Section 31.008. Counseling and Guidance Services
Section 31.0095. Needs Assessment
Section 31.010. Support Services
Section 31.0124. Referral to Educational Programs
Section 31.0126. Employment Programs
Section 31.01261. Provision of Employment Services to Certain Nonrecipient Parents
Section 31.0127. Coordination of Services to Certain Clients
Section 31.0128. Coordinated Interagency Plan
Section 31.0129. Coordinated Plan to Improve Interagency Transitions
Section 31.0135. Parenting Skills Training
Section 31.015. Healthy Marriage Development Program
Section 31.016. Service Referrals for Certain Recipients
Section 31.017. Healthy Marriages and Strong Families Grant Program