Sub. H.B. No. 126 Summary

• Establishes a mandatory statewide kinship care navigator program administered by the Department of Job and Family Services to assist kinship caregivers in accessing state and local services and benefits.

• Divides the state into 5-12 regions for program implementation, with region boundaries determined by population size, estimated number of kinship caregivers, navigator expertise, and other relevant factors.

• Requires navigators to provide information, referral services, and assistance obtaining publicly funded child care, respite care, special needs training, legal services, and a toll-free helpline.

• Mandates the Department adopt implementation rules within one year, with fiscal and administrative rules treated as internal management rules under section 111.15.

• Appropriates $5,000,000 in general revenue funds for fiscal year 2019 to support the program, with the state bearing full nonfederal costs and no county responsibility.