HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1694

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO FOSTER CARE.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


SECTION 1.  Foster providers, including provisionally-licensed and licensed resource family homes, group homes, and child-caring institutions, are responsible for the care and maintenance of children who are placed in their care.  These providers incur significant cost in fulfilling this responsibility, which includes the cost of providing food, shelter, clothing, transportation, daily supervision, medical care, personal essentials, school supplies, and a gamut of other necessities and services.

     The legislature finds that the department of human services renders foster care maintenance payments to foster providers to cover the costs incurred in providing such care and maintenance.  However, foster care maintenance payments have not increased since 1990 and the monthly foster care maintenance basic board rate of $529 is inadequate, falling significantly below the cost of adequate care and maintenance.

     The purpose of this Act is to increase the minimum monthly foster care maintenance basic board rate and the maximum monthly difficulty of care rate.

     SECTION 2.  Effective July 1, 2014, the department of human services shall increase the monthly foster care maintenance basic board rate to no less than $        for payments made by the department of human services directly to resource family homes, group homes, and child-caring institutions under sections 17-1617-3 and 17-1617-4, Hawaii Administrative Rules.

     SECTION 3.  Effective July 1, 2014, the department of human services shall increase the maximum monthly difficulty of care rate to no less than $        for payments made by the department of human services directly to resource family homes, group homes, and child-caring institutions under sections 17-1617-3 and 17-1617-4, Hawaii Administrative Rules.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 for the purposes of this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5.  The department of human services shall submit a report to the legislature on:

(1)  The status and costs of implementing this Act;

(2)  Any anticipated future costs related to implementing this Act; and

(3)  The number of foster children affected by this Act,

no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2015.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2014.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Foster Care; Monthly Board Rate; Appropriation

 

Description:

Increases the minimum monthly foster care basic board rate and foster care maximum difficulty of care rate.  Requires Department of Human Services to report to the Legislature prior to 2015 Regular Session on implementation and cost.  Appropriates funds.  Effective July 1, 2014.

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.