Northstar Care for Children benefits modified for children under the age of six and children transferred into Northstar Care for Children.

HF 1276 modifies Minnesota's Northstar Care for Children program to adjust benefit rates for two specific groups: children under age six entering kinship or adoption assistance, and children transferred into the program. It requires that most children under six receive 50% of the standard benefit rate upon entry, while children placed with relatives under certain placement preferences receive the full benefit amount. The bill amends statutes to clarify these rate changes and ensures state funding adjustments account for eliminating the reduced rate for relative placements. This directly affects young children in foster care or adoption assistance programs and their caregivers.