Topeka ? The state will give grandparents a helping hand in raising grandchildren under legislation signed Tuesday by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

The new law, which takes effect July 1, also increases the amount nursing care residents can keep from their Social Security checks and bars hunting and fishing licenses for parents behind in child support payments.

“Keeping families together helps reduce disruptions for children, and that’s important to their long-term success. Many grandparents are willing to become caregivers for their grandchildren but may be reluctant because of the cost of raising a child,” Sebelius said in a statement.

“By providing grandparents and other close relatives with this assistance, we can help more children stay with their families,” she said.

The new law gives eligible grandparents $200 per month for each grandchild they are raising, up to $600 for three.

Grandparents must be at least 50 years old with a household income of less than 130 percent of the federal poverty level, or $21,580 for a household of three. They also must have legal custody of the child.

They won’t be eligible if the parent of the child lives with them and would remain liable for supporting the child.

There is $2.1 million for the program in the state budget to cover children up to age 18, or 21 if they’re still enrolled in school. If there’s no grandparent, the program could be used by another close relative raising the child.

Census Bureau data from 2004 estimated that nearly 34,000 grandparents in Kansas had grandchildren under 18 living with them.

The Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services estimates about 1,400 families and 2,400 children in Kansas would qualify for the program.