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Committee gives due pass to bill tightening review of unlicensed congregate placements for foster children
Summary
Senate Bill 1035, sponsored by Senator Wintrow, would require the Department of Health and Welfare director to review placements in unlicensed congregate-care settings every 14 days and assess safety, treatment needs, progress and discharge planning. The committee voted to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
The Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted to send Senate Bill 1035 to the floor with a due pass recommendation after sponsor Senator Wintrow described amendments intended to clarify the director’s review role for foster children placed in unlicensed congregate-care settings.
Senator Wintrow said the bill builds on 2024 reforms that limited unregulated congregate care after reports of foster children placed in short-term rentals and other unregulated locations. “The bill additions include for a child placed in an unlicensed group care setting, including Airbnb, the director shall review the placement every 14 days,” Wintrow said, adding the review must “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 inappropriate, the director must find a new placement.
The sponsor said the changes have support from licensed children's facilities, the Department of Health and Welfare and child advocates including Idaho Voices for Children. Providers and the department participated in drafting the language, the sponsor said.
Committee members questioned administrative burden. Senator Zieterfeld asked whether the 14-day review requirement might force the department to hire additional staff. Wintrow and providers said the principal concern raised by providers is drawing treatment staff away from clinical work to complete reviews; the sponsor said the department had not asked for additional staff and that the review role was intended to be limited to the director level.
Provider witness Craig Anderson, owner and operator of Hinge Point Youth Homes, testified he helped draft the revised language and said the provision was “unanimously agreed to by the providers that were involved by the department, as well as other organizations.” Anderson said providers want ongoing collaboration with the department to solve operational issues.
Senator Blaylock moved to send Senate Bill 1035 to the floor with a due pass recommendation; Senator Burkey seconded. The motion passed by voice vote.
