No. SB 996
Filed under Healthcare.
Dependent Children; Requiring the Department of Children and Families and each community-based care lead agency to coordinate with certain organizations and meet at least quarterly for a specified purpose; requiring the department and each community-based care lead agency to make certain information available on their respective websites; requiring a caregiver to provide a weekly cash allowance to each child in his or her care beginning when the child attains a certain age; prohibiting a caregiver from withholding a child’s allowance as punishment, etc.
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATEDCaregivers must pay every foster child a weekly cash allowance once the child turns 6, starting at $1 per year of age up to age 12, then a flat $20 per week for ages 13 through 17.
The allowance cannot be tied to the child's behavior or chores, cannot be withheld as punishment, and cannot be required to cover hygiene items, school supplies, clothing, or other necessities the caregiver must already provide.
The Department of Children and Families and each community-based care lead agency must meet quarterly with youth advocacy organizations and publish a public progress report every February and August starting in 2027.
AIEvery caregiver of a child in out-of-home care must pay the child a weekly cash allowance beginning when the child turns 6, and the allowance cannot be tied to the child's behavior or chores.
AIA caregiver is barred from using the allowance as a disciplinary tool, so it cannot be docked or withheld to punish a child for misbehavior.
AIA caregiver cannot require the child to spend the allowance on personal hygiene items, school supplies, clothing, or other necessities that remain the caregiver's own responsibility to provide.
AIThe law fixes a minimum: $1 per year of age each week for children 6 to 12, then a flat $20 per week for ages 13 to 17.
AIThe Department of Children and Families and each community-based care lead agency must coordinate with organizations representing foster youth with lived experience and meet with them at least quarterly to gather input on child welfare challenges.
AIStarting in 2027, DCF and each community-based care lead agency must publish a public report every February 1 and August 1 on how they acted on suggestions gathered at the required meetings.