FIRST REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 551
91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR SIMS.
Read 1st time February 26, 2001, and 1,000 copies ordered printed.
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
2094S.01I
AN ACT
To repeal section 208.029, RSMo 2000, relating to the grandparents as foster parents program, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to the same subject.
Section A. Section 208.029, RSMo 2000, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 208.029, to read as follows:
208.029. 1. Subject to appropriations, the division of family services in the department of social services shall establish the "Grandparents as Foster Parents Program". The grandparents as foster parents program recognizes that:
(1) Raising a grandchild differs from when the grandparents raised their own children;
(2) Caring for a grandchild often places additional financial, social and psychological strain on grandparents with fixed incomes;
(3) Different parenting skills are necessary when raising a grandchild and many grandparents do not possess such skills, are not aware of how to obtain such skills and cannot afford access to the services necessary to obtain such skills;
(4) Grandparents, like nonrelative foster parents, need a support structure, including counseling for the grandchild and caretaker, respite care and transportation assistance and child care;
(5) The level of care provided by grandparents does not differ from nonrelative foster care, but reimbursement for such care is substantially less for grandparents; and
(6) Grandparents are often unaware of the cash assistance alternatives to the federal TANF block grant funds which are available to support the grandchildren placed in their care.
2. A grandparent shall be eligible to participate in the grandparents as foster parents program if such grandparent:
(1) Is fifty years of age or older;
(2) Is the legal guardian of a grandchild placed in such grandparent's custody; [and]
(3) Has an income at or below two hundred percent of the federal poverty level; and
[(3)] (4) Participates in the training available through the division pursuant to subsection 4 of this section.
3. If there are no grandparents of a child who are willing to participate in the grandparents as foster parents program, the division may include in the program any other close relative who becomes the legal guardian of the child or obtains legal custody of the child, as granted by a court of competent jurisdiction if such relative also meets the requirements of subdivisions (1) [and], (3) and (4) of subsection 2 of this section.
4. The grandparents as foster parents program [shall] may:
(1) Provide reimbursement based on the current foster care payment schedule to eligible grandparents, as defined in subsection 2 of this section, for the care of a grandchild;
(2) Establish program requirements, including, but not limited to, participation in foster parent training, parenting skills training, childhood immunizations and other similar health screens;
(3) Provide continuing counseling for the child and grandparent;
(4) Provide support services, including, but not limited to, respite care, child care and transportation assistance;
(5) Provide Medicaid services to such child; and
(6) Provide ancillary services, such as child care, respite, transportation assistance and clothing allowances, but not direct financial payments to the participants in the program after such participants complete the training required in subdivision (2) of this subsection.
5. Funding for cash benefits and other assistance provided to eligible grandparents shall be made from the state maintenance of effort funds.
6. Grandparents who are either under fifty years of age, or are fifty years of age or older and refuse to participate in the training pursuant to subsection 2 of this section, may apply to the division for foster care reimbursement and assistance. Such cash and noncash assistance shall be funded through the TANF funds. Any work participation and time limit requirements pursuant to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, as amended, shall apply to all such persons.