LB495 LB495
2021 2021
LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA
ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH LEGISLATURE
FIRST SESSION
LEGISLATIVE BILL 495
Introduced by Hilkemann, 4.
Read first time January 19, 2021
Committee: Health and Human Services
1 A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to foster care; to amend section 43-4215,
2 Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska; to state findings and intent;
3 to require implementation of an increase in foster care
4 reimbursement rates; to eliminate obsolete provisions; to repeal the
5 original section; and to declare an emergency.
6 Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska,
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1 Section 1. Section 43-4215, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, is
2 amended to read:
3 43-4215 (1) On or before July 1, 2021 2014, the Division of Children
4 and Family Services of the Department of Health and Human Services shall
5 implement the increase to the reimbursement rate as recommended by
6 recommendations of the Foster Care Reimbursement Rate Committee as
7 reported to the Legislature in the committee's report dated June 22,
8 2020, pursuant to section 43-4217 43-4212 as such section existed before
9 June 5, 2013.
10 (2) The Legislature finds that:
11 (a) A stable payment to foster parents is important to ensure that
12 families are able to budget for needs while caring for foster children;
13 (b) The foster care system has begun to stabilize as a result of the
14 consistent support from the state;
15 (c) The report from the Foster Care Reimbursement Rate Committee
16 demonstrates increased costs of raising a child above the foster care
17 reimbursement rates as of July 1, 2020; and
18 (d) Costs have increased for child-placing agencies providing foster
19 care support services.
20 (3) In recognition of the essential contributions of foster parents
21 and foster care providers to foster children in Nebraska, it is the
22 intent of the Legislature to:
23 (a) Increase rates for foster parents and foster care providers
24 utilizing data from the report to the Legislature by the Foster Care
25 Reimbursement Rate Committee, dated June 22, 2020, pursuant to section
26 43-4217, to ensure that providers of these services can continue serving
27 children in Nebraska;
28 (b) Continue existing contractual arrangements for payment to ensure
29 the continued stabilization of the foster care system in Nebraska;
30 (c) Ensure that fair foster care reimbursement rates continue into
31 the future to stem attrition of foster parents and to recruit, support,
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1 and maintain high-quality foster parents;
2 (d) Ensure that foster care reimbursement rates accurately reflect
3 the cost of raising a child in the care of the state;
4 (e) Ensure that contracted foster care service provider agencies do
5 not pay increased rates out of budgets determined in contracts with the
6 Department of Health and Human Services prior to any change in rates; and
7 (f) Maintain comparable foster care reimbursement rates to ensure
8 retention and recruitment of high-quality foster parents and to ensure
9 that the best interests of the children are served.
10 (2)(a) On or before July 1, 2013, the Division of Children and
11 Family Services of the Department of Health and Human Services shall
12 develop a pilot project as provided in this subsection to implement the
13 standardized level of care assessment tools recommended by the Foster
14 Care Reimbursement Rate Committee as reported to the Legislature pursuant
15 to section 43-4212 as such section existed before June 5, 2013.
16 (b)(i) The pilot project shall comprise two groups: One in an urban
17 area and one in a rural area. The size of each group shall be determined
18 by the division to ensure an accurate estimate of the effectiveness and
19 cost of implementing such tools statewide.
20 (ii) The Nebraska Children's Commission shall review and provide a
21 progress report on the pilot project by October 1, 2013, to the
22 department and electronically to the Health and Human Services Committee
23 of the Legislature; shall provide to the department and electronically to
24 the committee by December 1, 2013, a report including recommendations and
25 any legislation necessary, including appropriations, to adopt the
26 recommendations, regarding the adaptation or continuation of the
27 implementation of a statewide standardized level of care assessment; and
28 shall provide to the department and electronically to the committee by
29 February 1, 2014, a final report and final recommendations of the
30 commission.
31 Sec. 2. Original section 43-4215, Reissue Revised Statutes of
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1 Nebraska, is repealed.
2 Sec. 3. Since an emergency exists, this act takes effect when
3 passed and approved according to law.
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Statutes affected:
Introduced: 43-4215