CS/CS/HB 599 - Child Welfare Reform Summary

• Extended court jurisdiction for youth with disabilities - Circuit courts retain jurisdiction until age 22 (instead of 21) for dependent children with disabilities in foster care.

• Enhanced child voice in case planning - Children age 14+ must be consulted on case plan development, can select two non-caseworker team members, and must receive and sign their case plan.

• Transition planning requirements - Transition plans for youth leaving care must be court-approved before the child's 18th birthday.

• New permanency goal option - "Maintaining and strengthening the placement" added as permissible permanency goal in specified circumstances involving non-removed children or reunified children.

• Strengthened intervention services and residential placement oversight - Requires lead agencies to provide continuum of care with evidence-based services, establish permanency teams for residential group care placements, and develop out-of-home-care utilization plans; creates statewide quality rating system for foster homes and group care providers by July 1, 2018.