Honorable Patrick M. Rose, Chair, House Committee on Human Services
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB69 by Nelson (Relating to child protective services and foster care.), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB69, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($10,231,676) through the biennium ending August 31, 2011.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2010
($5,119,313)
2011
($5,112,363)
2012
($5,112,363)
2013
($5,112,363)
2014
($5,112,363)
Fiscal Year
Probable (Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Probable (Cost) from Federal Funds 555
2010
($5,119,313)
($880,687)
2011
($5,112,363)
($887,637)
2012
($5,112,363)
($887,637)
2013
($5,112,363)
($887,637)
2014
($5,112,363)
($887,637)
Fiscal Analysis
SECTION 2 would require the Department of Family and Protective Services to study and report on the feasibility of implementing a financial incentive program to encourage foster children to achieve and maintain their progress goals. SECTION 4 would require the agency to adopt policy providing for an exit interview of each foster parent who decides to leave the foster care system. SECTION 6 would require the agency to establish a foster care mentor pilot program. SECTION 7 would establish a bill of rights for foster children, require that each foster child be informed of his or her rights, and require the agency to develop and implement a policy for handling reports that the rights are not being met. The agencies indicate that any costs to implement these provisions would be minimal and can be absorbed within available resources. SECTION 9 would require the agency to spend up to $12 million from appropriations made for the 2010-11 biennium with the goal of ensuring that 95 percent of children in conservatorship or family-based safety services are visited by a caseworker at least once a month. The bill would take effect on September 1, 2009.
Methodology
SECTION 9 would be a new cost of $6.0 million per fiscal year compared to the current biennium.It is assumed that the cost would continue through fiscal year 2014, and the method of financing would include General Revenue Funds and federal matching funds. These funds would be used to help the agency move toward the attainment of federal targets established for monthly face-to-face visits between caseworkers and children in conservatorship.
Local Government Impact
The bill would require the department to provide information to a person enrolled in the Preparation for Adult Living Program about available community resources in teh person's residing county, or a surrounding county, to assist the individual in obtaining necessary services, including employment, housing, and health care. The costs to local entities are not anticipated to be significant.
Source Agencies:
529 Health and Human Services Commission, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of