This bill establishes a framework for approved agencies to facilitate the voluntary temporary placement of individuals in crisis—specifically infants, children, and pregnant women under 21—into the homes of volunteers. It defines "crisis" as situations such as homelessness, hospitalization, or domestic violence that leave these individuals without a safe home. Approved agencies, which are nonprofit organizations sanctioned by the Department of Children and Families (DCF), must enter into contracts with DCF before facilitating such placements. They are responsible for overseeing the placements, conducting home studies to assess the suitability of volunteers' homes, and ensuring that necessary background checks, including child abuse registry checks and criminal history record checks, are completed for all adults residing in the volunteer's home.

The bill also modifies existing confidentiality laws to allow the disclosure of information from the State's child abuse registry to prospective volunteers and adult residents of the home, ensuring that background checks are conducted to safeguard the welfare of children and individuals in crisis. Additionally, it mandates that approved agencies send the results of each home study and their suitability determination to DCF before placing a person in crisis in the home. The act is set to take effect seven months after its enactment, with provisions for anticipatory administrative actions by the DCF Commissioner.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 9:6-8.10