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Minutes for HB2754 - Committee on Federal and State Affairs
Short Title
Establishing a guardianship assistance program.
Minutes Content for Wed, Mar 14, 2018
Chairperson Barker opened the hearing on HB2754. Jason Long, Revisor, provided an overview of the bill (Attachment 1). Questions were asked by Chairperson Barker and Representatives Rooker, Smith, and Humphries.
Chairperson Barker recognized Jay Rowh as a proponent on HB2754 (Attachment 2). On behalf of the Kansas Silver Haired Legislature, they are in support of HB2754 to financially help grandparents who serve as legal guardians for their grandchildren. Many times they are on fixed incomes. The hope with this bill is that grandparents would provide the stability for a child that a foster parent could not.
Dan Goodman testified as a proponent on HB2754 (Attachment 3). A Guardianship Assistance Program (GAP) offers another option for families when foster care is not the best solution by extending Title IV-E funds to relative guardians. It will help the well-being of two populations -- the senior grandparents and the grandchildren in need. Questions were asked by Representatives Horn, Weber, and Smith.
Karen Weber was recognized by Chairperson Barker as a proponent on HB2754 (Attachment 4). Currently in Kansas, the foster care system and the adoption system are significantly funded by the federal government under Title IV-E from the Social Security Act. Since 2008 Title IV-E funding has also been extended to the states who have guardianship assistance programs. Kansas has not yet implemented that program. The federal government pays 50-83 percent of the program costs. The fiscal note projects a cost of $12 million to the state, but it does not reflect the Title IV-E funding that would be provided by the federal government. It has been shown in other states that providing guardianship financial assistance costs the state less than foster care maintenance programs. Questions were asked by Chairperson Barker and Representative Smith.
Chairperson Barker recognized Kathy Armstrong as a neutral on HB2754 (Attachment 5). The Permanent Custodianship (PC) Program started in 1999. The GAP program was started in 2009. A determination was made at that time not to participate in the GAP program since the PC program was serving its purpose and the GAP program would have been in lieu of the PC program. Balanced against the cost and compliance requirements, DCF has taken the position the cost of participation in the GAP would outweigh the benefit, especially in the first years of implementation and in light of the existing PC program. Questions were asked by Representatives Rooker, Lusk, and Horn. Comments were made by Chairperson Barker.
Representative Whitmer requested an accurate fiscal note. Chairperson Barker stated that the bill would not be worked until there was an accurate fiscal note.
Chairperson Barker closed the hearing on HB2754.
