Relating to the Preparation for Adult Living Program and other services for foster children transitioning to independent living.

Contracts

• Vendor Agreements: If you outsource PAL training to third-party vendors, you must amend their Statements of Work immediately. Their curriculum is likely non-compliant if it does not specifically cover "buy-here-pay-here" auto financing, payday loans, and title loans as now required by statute.
• DFPS Master Contracts: Anticipate amendments to your provider agreement incorporating Section 264.121 of the Family Code.

Hiring/Training

• Caseworker Retraining: Case managers are now statutorily required to facilitate complex financial discussions. Staff must be trained to explain the legal implications of a "common rental contract" (e.g., a TAA Lease) versus a simple rental application.
• Liability Guardrails: Train staff to provide *educational information* on insurance and credit, rather than *financial advice*, to avoid professional liability exposure.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

• Transition Plan Updates: You must update your internal case management checklists. The file must contain signed documentation verifying the youth has:
• 1. Reviewed a standard rental contract.
• 2. Received instruction on applying for and transferring government benefits (SNAP, WIC, TANF).
• 3. Identified a potential cosigner for housing (or documented the lack thereof).
• 4. Discussed specific "roommate expectations" regarding rent and duration of stay if planning to live with others.

Fees & Costs

• Budget Impact: No new state fees.
• Operational Cost: Providers should budget for administrative hours to update curriculum and potential costs to purchase updated financial literacy materials if current resources do not meet the new OCCC-aligned standards.