Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Senate advances bill to tighten reviews of congregate care placements; supporters say language protects treatment time
Summary
Senate Bill 1035, which would require the Department of Health and Welfare director to review unlicensed congregate placements every 14 days and assess safety, treatment needs and discharge planning, was sent to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation after committee testimony from providers and advocates.
Senator Melissa Wintrow presented Senate Bill 1035 to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee and the committee voted to send the bill to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation.
Wintrow said the bill builds on 2024 reforms (Senate Bill 1379) that restricted foster placements in unregulated congregate settings after reports that children had been placed in short‑term rentals, hotels and other unregulated locations. She said the 2024 law reduced placements in Airbnbs and other short‑term rentals but that stakeholders asked the Legislature to clarify the director’s role in reviewing and approving congregate placements so licensed facilities can better meet children’s treatment needs.
Key provisions in the proposed bill require the director to review any child placed in an unlicensed group care…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
