SB1323 Summary

• Establishes kinship foster care services for children removed from homes, prioritizing placement with relatives or individuals having significant relationships with the child.

• Requires kinship foster care parent applicants (non-licensed) to be at least 18 years old and submit to fingerprinting and criminal background checks through the Department of Child Safety.

• Makes kinship foster care parents eligible to receive full foster care benefits, and requires the department to inform families about available financial services including TANF cash assistance.

• Requires kinship foster care families to sign a statement before placement indicating whether they accept or decline financial services, with the option to apply later.

• Mandates the Department of Economic Security to immediately determine TANF eligibility for dependent children placed in kinship foster care homes that accept financial services.