CS/HB 7075 - Child Welfare

• Extends court jurisdiction over youth in foster care with disabilities from age 21 to age 22 and adds exceptions for extended jurisdiction in specific circumstances.

• Requires transition plans for children leaving foster care to be court-approved before reaching 18 years old and updated before each judicial review.

• Creates a statewide accountability system for residential group care providers based on measurable quality standards, with implementation required by July 1, 2022, and annual reporting to the Governor and Legislature beginning October 1, 2017.

• Establishes a workgroup to study foster home quality and develop strategies to increase availability of high-quality foster homes, with a report due to the Governor and Legislature by November 1, 2017.

• Revises grounds for termination of parental rights to include situations where a child or sibling has been placed in out-of-home care on three or more occasions due to parental actions, and clarifies circumstances under which one parent's rights may be terminated independently.