Revision: Jan. 16, 2020, 12:58 p.m.
SB 731-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2020 SESSION
20-3035
05/01
SENATE BILL 731-FN
AN ACT relative to foster family assistance and making an appropriation therefor.
SPONSORS: Sen. Kahn, Dist 10; Sen. Levesque, Dist 12; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Reagan, Dist 17; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Feltes, Dist 15; Rep. Knirk, Carr. 3; Rep. Martin, Hills. 23
COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services
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ANALYSIS
This bill provides additional financial assistance to first-time foster parents and licensees at renewal who are required to make in-home adjustments to meet licensure requirements. This bill also makes an appropriation to the department of health and human services for the purpose of providing a one-time, supplemental payment to foster parents upon placement of a child in fiscal year 2022.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
20-3035
05/01
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty
AN ACT relative to foster family assistance and making an appropriation therefor.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
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 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 contractors on behalf of the applicants or provide reimbursement to the applicant upon demonstration of payment.
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 under RSA 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.
I. Section 4 of this act shall take effect July 1, 2021.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect July 1, 2020.
20-3035
1/9/20
SB 731-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to foster family assistance and make an appropriation therefor.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
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| |||
| Estimated Increase / (Decrease) | |||
STATE: | FY 2020 | FY 2021 | FY 2022 | FY 2023 |
Appropriation | $0 | $0 | $30,000 | $0 |
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase |
Funding Source: | [ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ ] Other | |||
The Department of Health and Human Services was contacted for a fiscal note worksheet on December 6, 2019, which they have not provided as of January 9, 2020.
METHODOLOGY:
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a program to provide financial support for first-time foster parents or licensees at renewal, who are required to make in-home adjustments to meet licensure requirements. In addition, the bill appropriates $30,000 in FY 2022 for the purpose of providing a one-time supplemental allowance of $100 to foster parents upon placement of a foster child.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Health and Human Services