Committee approves amendment and advances foster care review board reform bill

Margaret Bonman, state child advocate and director of the Department of Children's Advocacy, presented Senate 8 58 and explained two requested changes: adding a savings clause so currently serving review-board members would remain in place if the bill takes effect, and clarifying procedures about notifying or obtaining consent from legislative delegations when dissolving local foster care review boards.

Bonman said the state board's recent work to dissolve some local boards was driven by long-term low caseloads in some counties and a shortage of volunteers. She said the department can work with legislative delegations on removal of individual members but that requiring delegation consent to dissolve an entire board would create practical difficulties for boards that include multiple delegations.

Committee members asked about who makes appointments, how oversight is preserved and protections for volunteers; Bonman said the bill would move appointment authority for local boards to the Department of Children's Advocacy (with recommendations from local delegations) while state-board appointments remain with the governor. The committee adopted an amendment (recorded 7 aye, 6 nay, 3 not voting, 2 absent) that adjusted notice/consent language, and later reported the bill favorably as amended (recorded 10 aye, 5 nay, 1 abstain, 2 absent).

Members characterized the changes as streamlining while trying to protect volunteer participation; the measure will move forward as amended for further legislative consideration.