CS/HB 7065 Summary

• Establishes a new Guardianship Assistance Program effective July 1, 2019, providing monthly cash payments (up to $4,000 annually) and one-time payments (up to $2,000) to relatives, next of kin, and fictive kin who serve as permanent guardians for eligible children.

• Terminates the Relative Caregiver Program effective June 30, 2019, but allows current participants to continue receiving benefits until children reach age 18.

• Revises foster care room and board rates, with Level I family foster homes receiving $333 monthly effective July 1, 2019, and establishes supplemental payments for children ages 13-17 in all family foster home levels.

• Extends adoption assistance and guardianship assistance payments to age 21 for young adults who entered agreements after age 16 and meet requirements such as completing secondary education, being employed, or having documented barriers to participation.

• Classifies family foster homes into five licensure levels (I-V) with varying requirements and creates provisions allowing guardians in the Guardianship Assistance Program to waive non-safety-related licensing home study elements.