Senate passes bill to streamline foster-parent training, sparking oversight concerns

Senator Warmie of Story called up Senate File 2096 and told the chamber the bill "deals with training for foster parents to ensure that we have sufficient and well trained parents available in the need of a foster care situation." The sponsor said the measure directs the Department of Human Services (HHS) to accept relevant existing training and to focus licensure on demonstrated competencies rather than repeat coursework.

Supporters said the bill aims to reduce redundancy and welcome qualified foster parents. "So looking to reduce redundancy and welcome, adequately prepared foster parents into our system," Warmie said. She told senators the bill does not alter background checks, home visits or reference checks and listed required training topics including child welfare overview, biological-parent contact, behavior management, trauma, child development, attachment, grief and loss.

Several senators voiced conditional support but pressed for stronger oversight. Senator Hardman of Polk said she was "supportive of this bill in eliminating redundancies" but that "oversight is critical" and urged assurance that HHS can execute individualized training plans with integrity. Senator Trone Garriott said he supported the bill but warned of budget and capacity pressures, stating, "Under the Republican majority's leadership, we're going into a second year of a $1,000,000,000 deficit for our state," and warned flexibility cannot come at the expense of funding for caseworkers.

Senator Busciano rose in opposition, repeatedly citing the need for mandated oversight and arguing the bill risks cutting a previously required 30 hours of training. "What we're cutting is 30 hours that mandates that. If we don't follow through, maybe it's 5 hours, maybe it's 6 hours," he said, and added that his prior requests for an oversight process "still have not gotten an answer".

After debate, Senator Warmie moved that Senate File 2096 be read for the final time and placed on its passage. The secretary read the caption and the Senate proceeded to a roll-call vote. Individual votes were recorded for several senators on the floor (for example, Senator Whitver voted aye; Senator Donoghue voted nay). The secretary reported 37 ayes and 9 nays; the presiding officer declared the bill passed and the title agreed to. The Senate granted unanimous consent to immediately message the bill to the House.

The measure directs HHS to implement competency-based training and to consider existing relevant training credits in foster-parent licensure. Questions remain on how many hours specific training requirements will amount to after HHS implements rules and how the Senate's oversight requests will be addressed. The bill’s next procedural step is transmittal to the House.