The bill amends the Guardianship Assistance Act to update the criteria for prospective guardians seeking assistance on behalf of eligible children. It specifies that a prospective guardian may be approved for guardianship assistance if they are a relative of the child or a licensed foster parent, and if the child has resided with them for at least six months prior to the application. The bill also introduces a new approval process that includes criminal record checks and child abuse registry checks for the prospective guardian and all adults living in their home, as well as fingerprint submissions for criminal history checks.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that a relative who cares for an eligible child in a licensed foster home for six consecutive months may be eligible for federal funding under Title IV-E for guardianship assistance, provided the eligibility criteria are met. It also allows for state-funded guardianship assistance for children placed with relatives or licensed foster parents, regardless of Title IV-E eligibility, as long as they meet the specified requirements. The bill includes provisions for siblings of eligible children to be placed in the same guardianship arrangement and ensures that assistance payments can be made for each sibling.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 722.874