Bill Summary for Bill Number SB09-245

Date: 04/23/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-245

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 09-245 to the Committee on Appro	PASS

02:37 PM -- Senate Bill 09-245

Representative Schafer, bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 09-245 concerning changes to conform to portions of federal Public Law 110-351 relating to kinship. The bill amends the Colorado Children's Code to conform with the federal "Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008", Public Law 110-351, concerning kinship placements. The bill also creates the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program to provide cash assistance to kinship foster parents who assume permanent guardianship of a child. The kinship guardian assistance program is an optional program allowed under federal law.

When the court is considering placing a child with a relative, the bill:

requires parents to submit a form listing potential relatives with whom the child may be placed within 7 business days after the date of the last hearing, or prior to the next hearing on the matter, whichever occurs first;
requires that a copy of the form be delivered to the county department of social services; and
specifies that each parent may suggest an adult relative or relatives whom he or she believes to be the most appropriate caretaker for the child.

County departments of social services are required to exercise due diligence to contact all grandparents and other adult relatives within 30 days following removal of a child from the home, unless the court determines there is good cause not to contact such relatives. The county department is required to explain that the child has been removed from his or her home, and describe the options for the relative to participate in the child's care under local, state, and federal law. Under current law, county departments have 90 days to contact relatives.

Representative Schafer distributed a fact sheet about the bill (Attachment A) and information about Bridging the Gap (Attachment B).

02:43 PM -- Mary Griffin, Colorado Department of Human Services, spoke in support of the bill. Ms. Griffin stated that the bill brings Colorado into conformance with federal law. She responded to questions from the committee.

02:47 PM -- Daniel Goff, Bridging the Gap, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Goff related his experience in the foster care system and stated that the bill could help kids in foster care.

02:49 PM -- Carla Bennett, League of Women Voters and the Colorado Coalition of Adoptive Families, spoke in support of the bill. Ms. Bennett stated that the bill helps to protect the best interests of children.


BILL:	SB09-245
TIME:	02:54:08 PM
MOVED:	Waller
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 09-245 to the Committee on Appropriations with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a vote of 8-0, with 3 excused.
SECONDED:	Roberts
		VOTE
	Apuan	Yes
	Court	Excused
	Gardner B.	Yes
	King	Yes
	Miklosi	Excused
	Pace	Yes
	Roberts	Yes
	Ryden	Yes
	Waller	Yes
	McCann	Excused
	Levy	Yes

Final YES: 8 NO: 0 EXC: 3 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS