HB716:

Kinship foster care; notice and appeal.

Bill Summary:

Kinship foster care; notice and appeal. Requires local boards of social services (local boards), upon receiving a request from a child's relative to become a kinship foster parent, to provide the relative with any forms and materials that must be submitted to become a kinship foster parent within 15 days. The bill requires local boards, upon denying a relative's request to become a kinship foster parent, to provide to the relative (i) a clear and specific explanation of the reasons for denial, (ii) a statement that such denial is appealable, and (iii) information regarding the procedure for filing such appeal. The bill allows relatives to file an appeal regarding such decisions with the Commissioner of Social Services and requires the Board of Social Services to adopt certain regulations regarding the timeline of such appeals. This bill is identical to SB 307.