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House approves amendment to allow kinship placement sooner under strict criteria; fiscal note reduced
Summary
The House amended and passed Senate Bill 153 to permit, under strict criteria, placement of children with kin during the initial shelter period rather than immediate foster placement; an amendment reduced the fiscal note from an estimated $50,000–$60,000 to $9,600.
Lawmakers approved an amendment to Senate Bill 153 on Feb. 27 that narrows the fiscal impact and clarifies kinship-placement procedures when a child is removed from home.
Representative Throckmorton moved amendment number 13, saying the original fiscal note was in the $50,000–$60,000 range but the amendment reduces the estimated cost to about $9,600, and makes clerical and scope adjustments. He described the bill’s substantive change: when a child is removed and a shelter hearing is held (typically within 72 hours, excluding weekends and holidays), the division could place a child with a qualified relative during that initial period prior to the shelter hearing under strict criteria—such as a finding that the home is unsafe, removal is necessary, and the parent or guardian agrees to the kinship placement and to limited contact until the hearing.
Throckmorton said the change is designed to permit placement with grandparents, aunts, uncles or other relatives in favorable circumstances and only where it is in the child’s best interest; if criteria are not met, the child would not be placed with kin. The amendment was adopted on the floor, and the bill passed its vote and will be sent back to the Senate for further consideration as recorded.
The transcript shows members discussed the limited circumstances and administrative safeguards required before kinship placement could occur.
