Sec. 31.017.  HEALTHY MARRIAGES AND STRONG FAMILIES GRANT PROGRAM.  (a)  The 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 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 commission shall require that each grant recipient provide program services at no cost to participants.
(d)  The 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 may adopt rules to implement this section.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1249 (H.B. 2683), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2007.
Amended by: 
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 4.062, eff. April 2, 2015.