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

This bill modifies Northstar Care for Children benefits to provide full payments to specific children under age six in kinship or adoption assistance programs. It requires that children entering these programs while under six and placed with relatives (under section 260.773 placement preferences) receive the full benefit amount, rather than the previous 50% rate. The change applies to children who enter the program while under six or are transferred into it, eliminating the reduced rate for these cases. The bill also adjusts state funding calculations to reflect this change in benefit payments. It directly affects children under six in relative care and their families receiving Northstar Care for Children assistance.