Senate committee backs bill lowering kinship foster parent age to 18, easing some licensing requirements

Senate Bill 415, a Department of Social Services priority, received a favorable report from the Family and Veterans' Services Committee after subcommittee testimony and a full‑committee voice vote.

"The opportunity here to bring the kinship relationship closer and being licensed without it at all jeopardizing or putting into jeopardy kids' care seems to be a hallmark of this bill," said Senator Florence, chair of the subcommittee on the measure, summarizing testimony and subcommittee discussion.

The bill would adopt licensing and approval standards specific to kinship foster family homes, lower the minimum age for kinship foster parents from 21 to 18, and remove some requirements the sponsors consider unrelated to child safety. The measure also…