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." JOANNE GIBBENS, DIVISION OF FAMILY AND YOUTH SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES (DHSS), testified in support of the bill. She explained that the bill would repeal a current statute requiring DHSS to conduct an annual review of subsidy amounts being paid to subsidize adoption and guardianship. She noted that the payments were both federally and statutorily required and designed to assist parents who adopt or become legal guardians of children with special needs. Ms. Gibbens noted that the original intent of the statute was to provide cost containment. She noted that the annual review did not generally result in cost containment, but rather in increases in the amount of subsidies awarded, as well as department staff time. She proposed that the elimination of the annual review process created savings by providing cost containment to existing subsidy amounts, and by eliminating staff time to process annual reviews and unnecessary follow ups for subsidy inquiry requests. She noted that the projected annual savings was $185 thousand of general funds. She emphasized that the elimination of the annual review process did not eliminate the right of adoptive parents or guardians to request a review of their subsidy. Representative Stoltze asked if the savings occurred in the cost of reviews or of the actual payments. He asked for a differentiation of these savings at the next hearing. Co-Chair Harris asked if these adoptive parents would be notified that it would now be their responsibility to request a review of their payments. Ms. Gibbens responded that families currently communicated regularly with the division about their financial needs. HB 166 was HEARD AND HELD.