Legislature(2003 - 2004)
03/13/2003 03:03 PM House HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 166-ELIMINATE REVIEW OF ADOPTION SUBSIDIES Number 1222 CHAIR WILSON announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 166, "An Act relating to adoptions that include a subsidy payment by the state; eliminating annual review of the subsidy paid by the state after adoption of a hard-to-place child has occurred; and providing for an effective date." Number 1232 JOANNE GIBBENS, Program Administrator, Division of Family & Youth Services (DFYS), Department of Health & Social Services (DHSS), explained that current statute requires an annual review of all adoption and guardianship subsidies in order to determine the continuing need for a subsidy and to review the amount. Originally designed as a cost-saving measure, it hasn't proven to be one. Therefore, DHSS has proposed eliminating the requirement for an annual review. She noted that committee packets should include a fiscal note reflecting the savings gained by eliminating this annual review. MS. GIBBENS pointed out that this doesn't mean adoptive parents or guardians lose the right to have their subsidies reviewed. Federal law requires that no subsidy amount may be decreased without the concurrence of the parents. Furthermore, there is an allowance that gives every adoptive parent or guardian the ability to request a review of the subsidy amount at any time. Ms. Gibbens related that the department anticipates there will be a more immediate response to requests from adoptive parents or guardians to have their subsidy amounts reviewed. CHAIR WILSON surmised that elimination of this annual review in no way takes away the due process for anyone. MS. GIBBENS replied that is correct. Number 1370 REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA asked if other types of oversight or checking-in exist for adoptive parents. MS. GIBBENS answered that [the department] is developing post- adoptive services to assist adoptive parents in their adjustment. With some federal dollars, the [department] should be able to provide more [post-adoptive] services in the coming year. Once a family adopts a child, the family has no responsibility in terms of the state and is viewed as any other parent. REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA noted that adoptions aren't necessarily permanent, although that is the desire. She asked whether [the annual review] has any value in that way. MS. GIBBENS replied that she didn't think so. She explained that sometimes, once an adopted child has reached adolescence, the child demonstrates a new need for additional mental health care or other items covered in the subsidy. In those cases, the adoptive parents contact the division and request assistance to provide additional services; thus the subsidy is reviewed [and there is a determination with regard to the request]. Number 1502 REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to report HB 166 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being no objection, HB 166 was reported from the House Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee.
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