HB617 Alabama 2010 Session

There is currently no kinship guardianship or kinship guardianship subsidy law in Alabama. The federal Fostering Connections and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-351) established kinship guardianship as a permanency option for children qualifying for federal Title IV-E funding and provided for kinship guardianship subsidy payments for relatives granted guardianship of relative children in foster care where certain requirements are met

This bill establishes the legislative intent and purposes for kinship guardianship and kinship guardianship subsidy; provides for kinship guardianship subsidy definitions; establishes a kinship guardianship subsidy program; provides eligibility requirements for kinship guardianship subsidy payments; provides for the amount of the subsidy payments; provides for the duration of the subsidy; provides for the administration of the program by a written agreement between the Department of Human Resources and the kinship guardian; provides for an annual review; provides that subsidy is not a countable resource for public assistance programs; provides for the adoption of rules by the Department of Human Resources; amends Section 12-15-301 of the Code of Alabama 1975, the Alabama Juvenile Justice Act, and provides for definitions; amends Section 12-15-314 of the Code of Alabama 1975, the Alabama Juvenile Justice Act, to provide procedures for appointment of a kinship guardian; provides for payment of child support by parents, legal guardians, or legal custodians who are able to do so; provides for the revocation and modification of kinship guardianships; provides for rights and duties of kinship guardians; provides for the authority of kinship guardians for school and non-school related activities; provides for medical and mental health authority for kinship guardians; amends Section 12-15-315 of the Code of Alabama 1975, the Alabama Juvenile Justice Act, to provide for the appointment of a kinship guardianship as a permanent plan alternative; amends Section 38-12-2, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide for definitions and eligibility consistent with this bill; and amends Section 38-12-4, Code of Alabama 1975, to require that kinship foster parents meet all program and funding requirements

To establish a kinship guardianships; to establish a kinship guardianship subsidy program; to provide legislative intent and purpose; to set procedures for establishing kinship guardianships and legal authority of kinship guardians; and to amend Sections 12-15-301, 12-15-314, 12-15-315, 38-12-2, and 38-12-4, Code of Alabama 1975.