Assembly Bill 1196 seeks to expand the types of homes that can provide housing and services to runaway children by including respite care provider homes. Currently, only licensed foster homes, group homes, and shelters are authorized to offer such services, but this bill allows respite care provider homes—homes approved to provide temporary care for foster children during their foster parents' absence—to also serve as runaway homes. The bill outlines that these homes can provide services with the consent of the child and their parent, guardian, or legal custodian, and if consent is not given, the home must notify the appropriate child welfare agency within 12 hours of the child's arrival.

The bill also amends existing statutes to ensure that the same provisions applicable to licensed foster homes, group homes, and shelters regarding the notification of child welfare agencies and the holding of hearings for children without consent will now apply to respite care provider homes. Specifically, it renumbers and amends section 48.227 (1) to (1m), creates section 48.227 (1a) to define respite care provider homes, and makes amendments to sections 48.227 (2) and (3) to include these homes in the existing legal framework governing the care of runaway children.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 48.227(2), 48.227, 48.227(3)