Child welfare oversight changes passed

A bill seeking changes to oversight of the state’s child welfare system passed May 29.

LB269, introduced by Lincoln Sen. Kathy Campbell, adds a tribal representative to the Nebraska Children’s Commission and adds the Inspector General for Nebraska Child Welfare as an ex officio member.

Additional changes to the commission include:
• moving the commission to the Foster Care Review Office;
• hiring a child welfare policy researcher to support the commission’s work; and
• adding the director of the Foster Care Review Office as voting member of the commission.

LB269 requires determination regarding eligibility for Medicaid coverage for state wards. The bill also requires the state Department of Health and Human Services to:
• apply for federal reimbursement of costs associated with the Nebraska Juvenile Service Delivery Project;
• establish new foster home licensing requirements to expand the use of child-specific, relative and kinship placements;
• secure evidence of financial stability from entities that subcontract with the department to provide child welfare services; and
• develop a policy for reimbursement of all allowable foster care maintenance costs under Title IV-E.

The bill passed 48-0 and takes effect immediately.