House Bill 2559 Summary

• Department of Child Safety must determine within 60 days whether each child in its care is receiving or eligible for Social Security Administration or Veterans Administration benefits.

• Department shall apply for federal benefits on behalf of eligible children and identify a suitable representative payee, serving as payee only if no other candidate is available.

• Department may not use children's federal benefits to pay for or reimburse the state for costs of care, but may use benefits for unmet needs beyond departmental obligations.

• Department must establish an appropriate account (special needs trust, ABLE account, or other compliant trust) to conserve and use benefits in the child's best interest and provide annual accounting to the child, attorney, and parents.

• Department shall notify the child, parents, guardian, placement provider, and attorney of any federal benefits applications or decisions, and must annually review cases to identify newly eligible children.