SB21-278 Summary

• Establishes separate review timelines for qualified residential treatment program placements: 60 days for youth committed to Division of Youth Services, and 60 days (or 30 days if objected to) for youth with ongoing court jurisdiction.

• Requires Department of Human Services to analyze necessary placement capacity by January 1, 2022, and develop a capacity-building plan by July 1, 2022, for each level of care needed statewide.

• Authorizes counties to negotiate rates above base anchor rates for higher acuity cases and requires tri-annual actuarial analyses beginning in 2022-23 to update rate-setting methodology for licensed out-of-home placement providers.

• Directs state department to assist residential placement providers in transitioning to Title IV-E eligible business models, with grants from at least 15% of federal Family First Transition and Support Act funding available through January 1, 2023.

• Appropriates $250,000 to the Department of Human Services for the 2021-22 fiscal year to fund provider rate actuarial analysis and requires a working group report by March 31, 2022, on fee collection compliance with federal law.