H.F. 1656 Summary

• Establishes a Family Foster Care and Adoption Legislative Task Force consisting of 18 members including legislators, county and tribal social services representatives, adoptive parents, foster care license holders, and disability advocacy organizations.

• Task force must evaluate and recommend improvements to foster care licensing timelines, adoption and kinship placement processes, specialized case management for children with severe disabilities, caregiver support and training, and complaint procedures for prospective parents and licensees.

• Legislative Coordinating Commission must convene the first task force meeting by August 15, 2021, with appointments finalized by August 1, 2021.

• Task force must submit a written report with recommendations and draft legislation to legislative committees with human services jurisdiction by January 1, 2023.

• Appropriates unspecified amount from general fund in fiscal year 2022 to the Legislative Coordinating Commission for task force operations as a one-time appropriation.