The bill amends the Idaho Code to enhance provisions related to foster care, particularly focusing on extended eligibility and the welfare of children in care. It extends the age limit for receiving foster care support from twenty-one to twenty-three years, allowing individuals who were in custody until their eighteenth birthday to access assistance as they transition into adulthood. The legislation emphasizes the necessity of regular review hearings to evaluate the child's safety, educational stability, sibling placements, and the suitability of their living arrangements. Additionally, it requires the Department to document efforts concerning the child's welfare, including educational stability and the administration of psychotropic medication, while clarifying the requirements for permanency plans and hearings.

Moreover, the bill introduces new definitions and provisions regarding child care and foster care licensing. It defines "continued care" to extend eligibility for ongoing placement in foster homes or residential care facilities up to twenty-three years. The Department of Health and Welfare is empowered to expedite licensing for relative caregivers and establish separate standards for their licensure, ensuring child safety is prioritized. The Board of Health and Welfare is also authorized to create licensing procedures for various child care facilities, with certain exemptions for foster homes approved by licensed agencies. The bill nullifies specific rules related to Child and Family Services effective July 1, 2025, and declares an emergency for the act to take effect on that date.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 16-1622, 39-1202, 39-1211A, 39-1213