SB 90 – Social Services Reform/CWBTC Recs.

Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Joyce Krawiec (R-Davie, Forsyth); Sen. Jim Burgin (R-Harnett, Johnston, Lee); Sen. Jim Perry (R-Lenoir, Wayne)

Summary

This bill directs DHHS to take the following actions:

  • Develop policies and procedures to require coordination between counties for children who reside outside the county that has custody of the child no later than 90 days after the child’s seventeenth birthday and submit a report summarizing the policies and procedures to the Chairs of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services and the Chairs of the House Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services.
  • Develop policies and procedures to outline a permanency plan process and to require caseworkers begin permanency plan development no later than 15 days before transitioning out of foster care on a child’s 18th
  • Develop and implement a plan to keep foster children in community-cased settings and avoid residential behavioral health placements and report to Chairs of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services and the Chairs of the House Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services regarding the same.
  • Study the statutory requirements of the social services system, juvenile justice system, and the Medicaid and NC Health Choice program applicable to children in foster care and report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice regarding the same.
  • Develop standardized assessment tools and require that only trained clinicians concerned appropriate by DHHS assess the use of those tools during treatment. DHHS must report to the Chairs of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services and the Chairs of the House Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services regarding the same.
  • Modify the Guardianship Assistance Program and the Kinship Care Program to encourage oversight and increased utilization.
  • Compile a list of programs that qualify for federal reimbursement through the Family First Prevention Services Act and report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services regarding the same.
  • Study confidentiality laws that apply to State social services and programs to make recommendations regarding any changes that may be needed to improve intercounty cross-sector collaboration to the Chairs of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services and the Chairs of the House Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services.

Movement

Filed – 2/11/2021