ID H0610

Amends definitions in the Child Protective Act, including revising "foster care" definition to specify it includes persons who may or may not be related to children, and adds new definition for "relative" as grandparent, great grandparent, aunt, uncle, sibling and similar relations.

Requires the Department of Health and Welfare to join as a party to termination of parental rights petitions filed by other parties and to identify, recruit, and process qualified adoptive families unless determined not in child's best interest or child is placed with a fit and willing relative.

Establishes placement priority for children in foster care: first with fit and willing relatives, second with fit and willing nonrelatives with significant relationship, and third with licensed foster parents, requiring consideration of child's best interest and special needs.

Creates new licensing requirement for relatives providing foster care under chapter 16, Idaho Code, but allows the Department to expedite placement and grant limited variances or waivers of licensing standards if child's health and safety are not endangered.

Requires the Department to document grounds for any licensing variances or waivers granted to relatives and to review such variances at regular intervals for continuing compliance.