HB 431: Kinship Child Placement Amendments - Utah

Amended 2/25/2025 11:02:70 → Substitute #1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill substitutes a new version of HB 431 that amends Utah Code sections 26B-2-130 and 80-2-301 to establish financial support for kinship caregivers. The main change is replacing a fixed cash payment system with a requirement to include kinship caregiver payments in the division's foster care rate table, which may affect how much money is available and how it is calculated.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on kinship caregivers for children in custody of the Division of Child and Family Services, but the funding mechanism has changed from specific dollar amounts to being tied to the foster care rate table.

FISCAL

Changed the payment structure from fixed amounts (up to $1,000 per child, capped at $3,000) to requiring payments be included in the division's foster care rate table, which could result in different payment amounts.

DEFINITION

Reorganized the definitions section by renumbering subsections from (b) and (c) to (e) and (f) to maintain proper alphabetical ordering after the initial definitions.

REQUIREMENT

Simplified the language regarding when payments are offered by removing the distinction between initial placement and ongoing placement payments, consolidating into a single one-time payment requirement.

TECHNICAL

Removed redundant references to 'Division of Child and Family Services' where the term 'division' alone was sufficient, and cleaned up formatting inconsistencies.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from May 7, 2025 to February 7, 2025, and updated the document header to reflect the substitute version.

Amended Excerpts 2/25/2025 11:02:70 → Amended 2/25/2025 11:02:70 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill adds new definitions for kinship caregivers and establishes a payment system to support relatives caring for children in the custody of the Division of Child and Family Services before they become licensed foster parents. It creates an initial payment of up to $1,000 per child and a potential ongoing payment of up to $1,000 per child after three months if certain conditions are met.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope to include non-licensed relatives and individuals with significant emotional ties to children, not just licensed foster parents or traditional relatives.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'initial kinship caregiver' and 'kinship caregiver' to clarify who qualifies for support payments.

FISCAL

Establishes a one-time payment of up to $1,000 per child for initial kinship caregivers, with a maximum of $3,000 total.

Creates an optional ongoing payment of up to $1,000 per child after three consecutive months if the child remains with the initial kinship caregiver.

ELIGIBILITY

Restricts the ongoing payment to children for whom the initial payment was not provided and who remain placed with the caregiver.

REQUIREMENT

Requires the Division to report payment information to the Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee.

EXEMPTIONS

Excludes initial kinship caregivers who become licensed foster care providers within three months of placement from receiving the ongoing payment.

Introduced → Amended Excerpts 2/25/2025 11:02:70 · 2 edits

MINOR

This bill amendment adds a specific funding provision for kinship caregivers who are not receiving initial payments from the Division of Child and Family Services. It establishes a one-time payment of up to $1,000 per child for relatives caring for children in temporary custody when they are not already receiving the standard initial kinship caregiver payment.

Scope change

The amendment narrows the scope of the initial kinship caregiver payment by creating an exception for children where no payment was previously provided, while maintaining the overall requirement for the Division to report payment information to the Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee.

FISCAL

Added a one-time payment provision of up to $1,000 per child for kinship caregivers who did not receive an initial payment under Subsection (3)(a) and remain placed with the initial kinship caregiver.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the reporting requirement to specifically include initial kinship caregiver payments in the annual report to the Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee.

Substitute #1 → Substitute #2 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Utah's kinship caregiver support program by adding specific payment amounts and conditions for relatives caring for children in state custody. It clarifies that relatives can receive up to $1,000 per child initially, with an additional $1,000 per child after three months if the placement continues, while also establishing eligibility requirements and reporting obligations for the Division of Child and Family Services.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope by adding specific payment amounts and conditions that were not detailed in the previous version, making the financial support program more concrete and measurable.

FISCAL

Changed the payment structure from a general one-time payment to specific amounts: up to $1,000 per child initially and up to $1,000 per child after three consecutive months, with a maximum of $3,000 total per child.

ELIGIBILITY

Added eligibility requirements stating that the initial kinship caregiver payment is offered at the time of placement and can be accepted or declined by the caregiver.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement that the division cannot offer the three-month continuation payment if the caregiver became a licensed foster care provider within three months of placement.

DEFINITION

Reorganized and renumbered definition subsections to correct numbering errors, changing (b) to (e) and (c) to (f) for terms like 'Relative' and 'Temporary custody'.

TECHNICAL

Changed the Senate Sponsor name from 'LONG TITLE' to 'Wayne A. Harper' and updated formatting throughout the document.

Kinship Child Placement Amendments

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