RS 31946: Committee agrees to print bill extending review period for certain residential treatment placements

Sen. Melissa Wintrow, a sponsor of RS 31946, told the Senate Health and Welfare Committee the measure is intended to fix an unintended consequence from last session’s statute that required director-level review of foster placements.

"I was a cosponsor on this bill, and it was basically with the intent to make sure that we were not having foster care kids in, Airbnbs," Wintrow said. She said the prior change required case review by the director and that, while that stopped inappropriate short-term placements, it had the unintended effect of capturing residential treatment programs that serve children with more complex needs. Wintrow said stakeholders including the Department of Health and Welfare and Idaho Voices for Children reviewed the issue and agreed changes were needed.

Under the RS presented to the committee, short-term placements would continue to receive a 14-day review while placements in residential treatment programs would fall under a 90-day review timeline. "So what you see is the RS before you, delineates the 14 days for those short term, you know, cases and then allows for, in this case, the residential treatment for that longer, 90 day review," Wintrow said.

Senator Bierke moved to send RS 31946 to print; the motion passed by voice vote. No recorded roll-call tally or amendments appeared in the committee transcript.

The transcript does not specify exact statutory citations changed, specific language of the RS, or any effective dates. Committee members were not recorded as adding conditions to the motion.