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Committee gives due-pass recommendation to bill tightening reviews for congregate foster placements
Summary
Senate Bill 1035, building on 2024 reforms, received a due-pass recommendation. The bill requires the director to review unlicensed congregate placements (including Airbnbs) every 14 days and assess safety, treatment plan, services and discharge progress; if inappropriate, the director must find a new placement.
The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted to send Senate Bill 1035 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation after sponsor testimony and supportive provider testimony.
Senator Melissa Wintrow, State Senator, presented the bill as a follow-up to 2024 reforms (Senate Bill 1379) that restricted placements of foster children in unregulated congregate settings. Wintrow said the 2024 law helped eliminate placements in short-term rentals and that SB 1035 “builds on the reforms” by clarifying the director’s role in reviewing and approving placements for foster children placed in unlicensed group-care settings, including Airbnbs.
The bill requires the director to review such placements every 14 days and assess the child’s safety, treatment needs, facility services, treatment plan, overall progress, discharge plan and progress toward discharge. If the director finds a placement appropriate, it may continue under approval; if the review reveals the placement is inappropriate, the director must find a new and appropriate placement.
Senator Zieterfeld asked whether the 14-day review requirement might strain departmental capacity. Wintrow and other senators discussed staffing and program trade-offs: the 2024 reforms created additional oversight tasks without adding staff, and sponsors said the department’s current administration is prioritizing recruitment of foster homes to avoid congregate placements. Provider testimony supported the measure and described collaborative drafting of the revised language.
Craig Anderson, owner/operator of Hinge Point Youth Homes, testified remotely and said providers and the department had agreed on the language, which he described as a collaborative fix that reduces administrative burden while preserving treatment focus. Bridal Shipley of Hailey testified in support, urging timely assessments and use of least-restrictive settings.
Senator Blaylock moved to send Senate Bill 1035 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; Senator Burkey seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote; committee members responded “aye” and no opposed votes were recorded on the transcript.
The sponsor and witnesses repeatedly framed the bill as child-centered and as intended to ensure that placements are safe, clinically appropriate and reviewed regularly, while minimizing administrative work that would pull staff away from direct treatment.
