SB 361

Introduction.

Under current law, any person who receives four or fewer

children or, under certain circumstances, more than four children to provide care and

maintenance for those children must obtain a license to operate a foster home and

is reimbursed for that care and maintenance according to rates specified in the

statutes. A relative other than a parent (kinship care relative) who provides care and

maintenance for a child is not required to obtain a foster home license, but may, if

he or she meets certain conditions, receive monthly payments from the county

department of human services or social services (county department) or, in

Milwaukee County, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) for the care and

maintenance provided for the child (kinship care payments).

This bill makes various changes relating to: 1) the monthly rates that are paid

for foster care and kinship care; 2) the levels of care that a foster home may provide;

3) licensing of kinship care relatives to operate foster homes and, subject to certain

exceptions, time limits on kinship care payments; and 5) licensing of foster homes

across county lines.

Monthly rates for foster care and kinship care.

Under current law, a foster

parent who is a relative of the child who is receiving foster care is reimbursed for

basic maintenance at the rate of $215 per month and, beginning on January 1, 2011,

at the rate of $220 per month. Under current law, a foster parent who is a nonrelative

of the child who is receiving foster care is reimbursed for basic maintenance

according to age-related rates specified in the statutes and may receive

supplemental payments that are commensurate with the level of care that the foster

home is licensed to provide and the needs of the child (supplemental payments)

according to rules promulgated by DCF. Under current law, a kinship care relative

who is providing care and maintenance for a child may receive payments in the

amount of $215 per month for the care and maintenance provided for the child.

This bill provides that a foster parent who is licensed to provide the basic level

of care under the rules promulgated by DCF is reimbursed at the rate of $215 per

month and, beginning on January 1, 2011, at the rate of $220 per month, regardless

of whether the foster parent is a relative or a nonrelative of the child who is receiving

foster care. Similarly, the bill also provides that a foster parent who is licensed to

provide care at a level of care that is higher than that basic level of care is reimbursed

according to the current statutory age-related rates and may receive supplemental

payments, regardless of whether the foster parent is a relative or a nonrelative of the

child who is receiving foster care. In addition, beginning on January 1, 2011, the bill

raises the amount paid to a kinship care relative for the care and maintenance of a

child to $220 per month.

Levels of care that a foster home may provide.