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LRB-0946/P1
EHS:klm
2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Bork, BB0322 - Foster care and kinship care rate increase
For 2021-2023 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
An Act ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
health and human services
Children
Foster and kinship care rates
The bill increases the rates that are paid to a foster parent or a kinship care relative (a relative other than a parent) who is providing care and maintenance for a child.
The bill increases the monthly basic maintenance rates that are paid by the state or a county to all foster parents for the care and maintenance of a child by 2.5 percent beginning on January 1, 2022, and increases the age-based monthly basic maintenance rates paid to parents providing higher than level one care by an additional 2.5 percent beginning on January 1, 2023. Beginning on January 1, 2022, the monthly rates are $300 for a child of any age in a foster home certified to provide level one care and, for a foster home certified to provide higher than level one care, $431 for a child under five years of age, $472 for a child 5 to 11 years of age, $535 for a child 12 to 14 years of age, and $559 for a child 15 years of age or over. Beginning on January 1, 2023, the monthly rates for a foster home certified to provide higher than level one care are increased to $442 for a child under five years of age, $484 for a child 5 to 11 years of age, $548 for a child 12 to 14 years of age, and $573 for a child 15 years of age or over.
The bill also increases the monthly basic maintenance rates that are paid by the state or a county to a kinship care relative (a relative other than a parent) who is providing care and maintenance for a child. These rates are the same as for a foster home certified to provide level one care.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. 48.57 (3m) (am) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.57 (3m) (am) (intro.) From the appropriations under s. 20.437 (2) (dz), (md), (me), and (s), the department shall reimburse counties having populations of less than 750,000 for payments made under this subsection and shall make payments under this subsection in a county having a population of 750,000 or more. Subject to par. (ap), a county department and, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department shall make payments in the amount of $254 $300 per month beginning on January 1, 2020 2022, to a kinship care relative who is providing care and maintenance for a child if all of the following conditions are met:
Section 2. 48.57 (3n) (am) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.57 (3n) (am) (intro.) From the appropriations under s. 20.437 (2) (dz), (md), (me), and (s), the department shall reimburse counties having populations of less than 750,000 for payments made under this subsection and shall make payments under this subsection in a county having a population of 750,000 or more. Subject to par. (ap), a county department and, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department shall make monthly payments for each child in the amount of $254 $300 per month beginning on January 1, 2020 2022, to a long-term kinship care relative who is providing care and maintenance for that child if all of the following conditions are met:
Section 3. 48.62 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.62 (4) Monthly payments in foster care shall be provided according to the rates specified in this subsection. Beginning on January 1, 2020 2022, the rates are $254 $300 for care and maintenance provided for a child of any age by a foster home that is certified to provide level one care, as defined in the rules promulgated under sub. (8) (a) and, for care and maintenance provided by a foster home that is certified to provide care at a level of care that is higher than level one care, $420 $431 for a child under 5 years of age; $460 $472 for a child 5 to 11 years of age; $522 $535 for a child 12 to 14 years of age; and $545 $559 for a child 15 years of age or over. Beginning on January 1, 2023, the rates for care and maintenance provided by a foster home that is certified to provide care at a level of care that is higher than level one care are $442 for a child under 5 years of age; $484 for a child 5 to 11 years of age; $548 for a child 12 to 14 years of age; and $573 for a child 15 years of age or over. In addition to these grants for basic maintenance, the department, county department, or licensed child welfare agency shall make supplemental payments for foster care to a foster home that is receiving an age-related rate under this subsection that are commensurate with the level of care that the foster home is certified to provide and the needs of the child who is placed in the foster home according to the rules promulgated by the department under sub. (8) (c).
Section 9406. Effective dates; Children and Families.
(1) Foster care and kinship care rates. The treatment of ss. 48.57 (3m) (am) (intro.) and (3n) (am) (intro.) and 48.62 (4) takes effect on January 1, 2022, or on the day after publication, whichever is later.
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