Arapahoe County to seek amendments to bill requiring counties to handle federal benefits for foster youth

Arapahoe County officials said a Colorado House bill that would require county departments to determine eligibility for federal benefits for children in foster care and place those benefits into trust accounts would create a significant legal and administrative burden for counties.

County attorneys and commissioners told a legislative update meeting the bill — discussed as House Bill 25 12 71 in the meeting materials — would require county departments to determine eligibility “within 90 days of the date of placement,” create trust accounts for benefits, and prohibit counties from using those federal benefits to offset the cost of the child’s care. The draft also would create a legislatively appointed work group but, officials said, keeps the statutory duties in place with an effective date that would begin before the work group’s recommendations are due.

County officials said why the matter matters: Arapahoe County’s legal staff and social services staff lack routine, in-house expertise to create the kinds of protected accounts described in the draft. Creating…