HB 1397 - DIGEST

(SUBSTITUTED FOR - SEE 1ST SUB)

     Requires the department to adopt rules to establish and operate the relative caregiver program.  The program shall include, but is not limited to, the following elements:

     (1) Relatives who qualify for and participate in the relative caregiver program are not required to meet foster care licensing requirements.

     (2) Relatives who are caring for children shall receive a special monthly relative caregiver benefit, which shall be in the amount of at least one hundred dollars per child per month.  This benefit shall not be available to relatives for the first child placed; the benefit shall be available only for the second child and each subsequent child placed with the relative.  The relative caregiver benefit is not intended to supplant any other grant or benefit for which relatives or the children in their care are currently eligible.

     (3) Within available funding, the relative caregiver program shall provide relative caregivers with a range of support services designed to assist relatives in parenting the children placed in their care.

     (4) Children living with relative caregivers who are receiving assistance under this section shall be eligible for medicaid coverage.

     (5) The department may use appropriate available state, federal, and private funds to operate the relative caregiver program.