FOSTER CARE PLAN & FOCUS GROUPS - H.B. 5183 (H-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS

sans-serif">House Bill 5183 (Substitute H-1 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)

Sponsor: Representative John Stahl

House Committee: Family and Children Services

Senate Committee: Families and Human Services

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Social Welfare Act to require the Family Independence Agency (FIA) to establish and administer a State plan for foster care according to the provisions of Part E of Title IV of the Social Security Act (42 USC 670 to 679b). (Title IV-E pertains to Federal payments for foster care and adoption assistance, and requires states to submit a plan to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in order to qualify for the funds.) The State plan would have to include programs and services that promoted, implemented, and supported foster care focus groups. The bill would require the FIA to use input from locally-based foster care focus groups when developing and reviewing annually the State plans to carry out foster care policy and services.

A focus group would have to consist of youths in foster care or independent living programs, youths previously in foster care, foster parents or relatives caring for youths in foster care, and adults previously in foster care or independent living programs.

The bill would encourage the establishment of foster care focus groups in both of the following:

--    Licensed child placing agencies with which the FIA contracts for youth foster care services that have an annual average daily foster care caseload of at least 150 cases or that derive more than 50% of their operating budget from contracts with the FIA for youth foster care services.

--    Counties in which the FIA has an annual average daily foster care caseload of at least 150 cases.

The bill specifies that State and Federal funds appropriated to implement State plans in compliance with Part E of Title IV and State laws could be used to meet the proposed provisions.

Proposed MCL 400.18e - Legislative Analyst: Julie Koval

FISCAL IMPACT

It appears that the bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government. The FIA currently operates two foster care focus groups, also known as youth boards, as part of a Youth in Transition initiative funded by a private foundation grant. The grant is for three years. The bill, however, would allow for the use of Federal Title IV-E and State funds for this purpose.

Date Completed: 2-11-04 - Fiscal Analyst: Constance ColeFloor\hb5183 - Bill Analysis @ www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.