H.B. No. 640 Summary

• Establishes a bill of rights for kinship caregivers including rights to dignity, information about support services, 24/7 agency contact, medical and mental health services access, and childcare without work requirements.

• Requires appointment of child advocates for kinship care in every county, with additional advocates in high-service counties, and guarantees priority school choice for children in kinship care.

• Mandates equal treatment of kinship caregivers regarding funding and resources regardless of whether care is formal, informal, or adoptive, and requires agencies to provide information about the child's medical history and educational background.

• Provides kinship caregivers with comparable remuneration to foster care providers and reimburses expenses for childcare, school supplies, clothing, training, and other essential items for child care.

• Requires the Director of Job and Family Services to adopt implementing rules and authorizes funding transfers from the Budget Stabilization Fund to the General Revenue Fund for Job and Family Services Program Support.