Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 9 and Title 37.

Present law prohibits juvenile courts from directing the department of children's services' or its contractors' or agents' to use or dispose of any federal funds for which any child or person in the care of the department is eligible or may receive and for which the department may be payee on behalf of such child or person including, but not limited to, social security survivors benefits and supplemental security income benefits, foster care or adoption assistance benefits, or veteran's benefits, railroad retirement benefits or black lung benefits or any successor entitlements that are provided by federal law. Present law requires that funds received under any federal benefits programs be processed, utilized and accounted for by the department pursuant only to federal regulations or federal court orders governing those programs.<br /> <br /> This bill adds a prohibition on the department of children's services collecting or expending moneys that are received as survivor benefits, disability benefits, or otherwise from the social security administration or the department of veterans affairs on behalf of a child in the custody of the department. This bill requires the department to receive and hold such moneys in a trust account for the child to be released to the child without condition upon the child's 18th birthday. This bill requires the state to maintain a trust account established pursuant to this bill.<br />