NOTE:  As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended only for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used for other purposes.

 

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F I S C A L   I M P A C T   R E P O R T

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Ogle

 

DATE TYPED:

2/24/03

 

HB

757

 

SHORT TITLE:

Foster Parents Bill of Rights

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

Maloy

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

 

 

Minimal—

See Narrative

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received From

Children Youth and Families Department

Office of the Attorney General

Administrative Offices of the Courts

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

House Bill 757 enacts a bill of rights for foster parents.

 

Significant Issues: 

 

1.      Several provisions of HB 757 are taken from existing CYFD policies and procedures.

 

2.       Foster parents are included as an active participant in the treatment team of children placed in their homes, and CYFD policy and practice outlines foster parent involvement guidelines in the treatment plan process. 

 

3.   Listed below are provisions of this bill that are not current practice that will have significant administrative impact for CYFD:

 

·        foster parents have “the right to be considered as a primary placement option when a child formerly in their foster home reenters the foster care system”;

 

·        foster parents have “the right to be given reasonable prior written notice of any change in a child’s treatment plan, any plan to terminate the placement of the child with the foster family, and the reasons for the change or termination”.

 

3.                  According to CYFD, some of the “rights” stated in this bill may also be impracticable in the foster care context.   The language in this bill provides “confidentiality regarding issues that arise in foster family homes”.   Foster care treatment teams, which include foster parents as team members, require accurate information about issues that arise in a foster family setting to ensure that issues and concerns are considered in identifying the needs of children in foster care.  Also, some incidents occurring within the foster care program must be reported to other agencies and/or regulators.

 

To bring consistency, CYFD may need to define some of the nuances of the rights through their foster care rules and regulations and through manuals and information provided to foster parents.

 

4.         Providing enhanced support to foster parents may result in a stronger foster care system and easier placement, even permanent placement, of children.    

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

Implementation of the items discussed in the significant issues section will require CYFD absorb certain FTE and budget costs.  These costs will be minimal and should be manageable with existing resources.

 

TECHNICAL ISSUES

 

The bill does not specify any liabilities, remedies, or avenues for redress.

 

SJM/yr/njw