This bill amends the Foster Care Review Act by introducing new provisions regarding local foster care review boards. It establishes that these boards will conduct foster care file audit case reviews for children in foster care and specifies that the executive director of the office will select board members from submitted applications. The bill also stipulates that local boards must consist of four to ten members who represent diverse social, economic, racial, and ethnic groups, and it prohibits individuals employed by certain agencies from serving on these boards. Notably, the bill exempts local boards from the Open Meetings Act, indicating that they will not be considered public bodies under this law.

Additionally, the bill modifies the responsibilities of the designated local boards in conducting foster care file audit case reviews, including submitting findings and recommendations to the court regarding the child's placement and progress. It emphasizes the importance of stability in foster care placements and encourages the recruitment of foster parents who may also be eligible for adoption. The bill repeals obsolete provisions and outright repeals section 43-1306 of the Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement, 2024, streamlining the legal framework surrounding foster care review processes in Nebraska.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 43-1304, 43-1308