This section defines when a child is a "dependent child" for this chapter.
Sec. 31.002. DEFINITION OF DEPENDENT CHILD. (a) In this chapter, the term "dependent child" applies to a child: (1) who is a resident of this state; (2) who is under 18 years of age or is under 19 years of age and is a full-time student in a secondary school or at the equivalent level of vocational or technical training if, before the child's 19th birthday, the child may reasonably be expected to complete the secondary school or training program; (3) who has been deprived of parental support or care because of the death, continued absence from home, or physical or mental incapacity of a parent; (4) who has insufficient income or other resources to provide a reasonable subsistence compatible with health and decency; and (5) who is living in the home residence of his or her father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, brother, sister, stepfather, stepmother, stepbrother, stepsister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, or niece. (b) In this chapter, the term "dependent child" also applies to a child: (1) who meets the specifications set forth in Subsections (a)(1)-(4); (2) who has been removed from the home of a relative specified in Subsection (a)(5) as a result of a judicial determination that the child's residence there is contrary to his or her welfare; (3) whose placement and care are the responsibility of the Department of Family and Protective Services or an agency with which the Department of Family and Protective Services has entered into an agreement for the care and supervision of the child; (4) who has been placed in a residential child-care facility by the Department of Family and Protective Services; and (5) for whom the state may receive federal funds for the purpose of providing foster care in accordance with rules promulgated by the executive commissioner. Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2343, ch. 842, art. 1, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1979. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 395, Sec. 1, eff. June 2, 1993; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 8.014, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 4.040, eff. April 2, 2015. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 317 (H.B. 7), Sec. 42, eff. September 1, 2017.