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Providers and child‑advocates warn SB 14-19 could reduce access for foster families and small nonprofits
Summary
Idaho Voices for Children and several daycare operators urged the committee to hold SB 14-19, saying statutory language omits important rule exemptions (such as foster‑parent income exclusions) and that new auditing or financial‑audit requirements could be unaffordable for small nonprofit or church providers.
Several testifiers urged the Senate Health and Welfare Committee to pause SB 14-19 and work with industry experts, parents and providers before moving forward.
Christine Tiddens, executive director of Idaho Voices for Children, said the bill "moves all the requirements from rule into statute" but is not a clean transfer and ‘‘does not give the Department of Health and Welfare authority to promulgate new rules for this new ICCP chapter.’’ She called out specific gaps: the bill does not preserve a current eligibility exclusion for foster‑parent income, and it could prevent certain qualifying activities (for example, preventive services that avoid foster placements) from counting.
Licensed provider Megan Millward testified that recent licensing changes and closures have strained local capacity: she said nine day‑care providers have closed in the past six months in her area and warned that adding annual financial‑audit requirements could cost small nonprofits tens of thousands of dollars — expenses that small providers cannot absorb without jeopardizing operations.
Advocates recommended further stakeholder engagement to ensure reforms strengthen integrity without creating unintended barriers that reduce access for the children the program is intended to help.
