1 Statement of Purpose and Findings. In state fiscal year 2019, 1,779 children in New Hampshire were in child protective placement at some point during the year. In January 2019, there were 797 foster homes and 596 relative homes available in the state. It is imperative that a sufficient array of foster and relative homes be available to serve children who must come into child protective custody in the most appropriate placement in their own community.

2 New Paragraph; Foster Parents; Foster Care Allowance. Amend RSA 170-E:52 by inserting after paragraph VI the following new paragraph:

VII. The department shall establish a supplemental foster care allowance program to provide financial support to assist first-time foster parents or licensees at renewal, who are required to make in-home adjustments to meet licensure requirements. In order for an expense to be eligible, the department shall require prior approval of the project before any improvements are initiated. Upon receipt of an authorized invoice for an improvement, the department may make payments directly to the contractor on behalf of the applicant or provide reimbursement to the applicant upon demonstration of payment. There shall be a limit of $2,500 in reimbursable expenses per foster family home. The department may transfer unexpended funds from other accounting units and class lines in order to supplement any appropriation made to the department for purposes of this paragraph; provided that the funding for the supplemental foster care allowance program shall not exceed $100,000 per fiscal year.

3 Residential Care and Child-Placing Agency Licensing; Rulemaking; Foster Care Allowance. Amend RSA 170-E:34, I(f) to read as follows:

(f) Compensation to foster family homes for the costs of caring for each child placed in their home .

4 Fiscal Year 2022; Supplemental Assistance for New Foster Care Placements; Appropriation to the Department of Health and Human Services. Upon placement of a foster child during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, the foster parent shall receive a one-time allowance of $100, above and beyond daily reimbursement rates, from the department of health and human services for the purpose of providing for the immediate needs of the child. The sum of $30,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022 is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services for the purposes of this section. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

5 Effective Date.

I. Section 4 of this act shall take effect July 1, 2021.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect September 1, 2020.

1 Statement of Purpose and Findings. In state fiscal year 2019, 1,779 children in New Hampshire were in child protective placement at some point during the year. In January 2019, there were 797 foster homes and 596 relative homes available in the state. It is imperative that a sufficient array of foster and relative homes be available to serve children who must come into child protective custody in the most appropriate placement in their own community.

2 New Paragraph; Foster Parents; Foster Care Allowance. Amend RSA 170-E:52 by inserting after paragraph VI the following new paragraph:

VII. The department shall establish a supplemental foster care allowance program to provide financial support to assist first-time foster parents or licensees at renewal, who are required to make in-home adjustments to meet licensure requirements. In order for an expense to be eligible, the department shall require prior approval of the project before any improvements are initiated. Upon receipt of an authorized invoice for an improvement, the department may make payments directly to the contractor on behalf of the applicant or provide reimbursement to the applicant upon demonstration of payment. There shall be a limit of $2,500 in reimbursable expenses per foster family home. The department may transfer unexpended funds from other accounting units and class lines in order to supplement any appropriation made to the department for purposes of this paragraph; provided that the funding for the supplemental foster care allowance program shall not exceed $100,000 per fiscal year.

3 Residential Care and Child-Placing Agency Licensing; Rulemaking; Foster Care Allowance. Amend RSA 170-E:34, I(f) to read as follows:

(f) Compensation to foster family homes for the costs of caring for each child placed in their home and the application and administration procedure for the supplemental foster care allowance underRSA 170-E:52, VII .

4 Fiscal Year 2022; Supplemental Assistance for New Foster Care Placements; Appropriation to the Department of Health and Human Services. Upon placement of a foster child during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, the foster parent shall receive a one-time allowance of $100, above and beyond daily reimbursement rates, from the department of health and human services for the purpose of providing for the immediate needs of the child. The sum of $30,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022 is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services for the purposes of this section. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

5 Effective Date.

I. Section 4 of this act shall take effect July 1, 2021.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect September 1, 2020.