Committee advances bill to prioritize foster children for after‑school programs; parents, providers describe barriers

The House Children and Families Committee adopted an author's amendment to House File 37-14 and re‑referred the bill to the Committee on Education Policy after extended testimony from foster parents, county advocates and nonprofit providers.

Representative Clardy said the A1 amendment requires either the district or the commissioner, as appropriate, to accept documentation verifying a child's foster-care status and to process that documentation within 48 hours; the amendment also adds kinship or relative custodians to the priority list for sliding-fee child-care assistance and equalizes priority for certain age groups.

"We received testimony that foster families face long wait lists and administrative barriers," Representative Carney told the committee. A foster parent testifying said she paid more than $26,000 over two years in after‑school and childcare costs and described being put on waiting lists repeatedly before her children were admitted to programs.

Supporters, including CASA Advocates, Pathways Home/Greater Twin Cities United Way and Foster Advocates, argued the change will help stabilize placements and reduce unnecessary moves by ensuring foster children have consistent access to enrichment and supervision after school. Committee members asked about potential fiscal impacts; authors said the change reprioritizes existing funds and that a fiscal note had been requested for parts that might affect the North Star child-care allowance.

Representative Clardy renewed the motion to re‑refer the bill; members approved the referral by voice vote. The committee record shows the amendment adopted and the bill referred to Education Policy for further review and fiscal analysis.

What happens next: Education Policy staff will review the amendment language and any fiscal notes; stakeholders can expect additional committee hearings as the bill moves through the process.