Change in foster care oversight amended, advanced

Nebraska’s current Foster Care Review Board would be replaced by a Foster Care Review Office under a bill advanced from select file March 28.

The 11-member Foster Care Review Board was created by the Legislature in 1982 as an independent agency to provide oversight to the state’s foster care system.

LB998, introduced by Omaha Sen. Bob Krist, would abolish the board and establish a Foster Care Review Office. Terms of the current 11-member Foster Care Review Board would terminate immediately.

Under the bill as amended on general file, the newly created office would be a non-code agency within the executive branch. All staff except the executive director would be transferred from the Foster Care Review Board to the Foster Care Review Office.

The bill also would create a Foster Care Advisory Committee. Lists of potential appointees would be submitted to the governor by the Legislature and members would be limited to two consecutive three-year terms.

No member of the advisory committee could have a financial interest in the foster care system or be employed by the state Department of Health and Human Services, a county, court, child-caring agency or child-placement agency.

Cedar Rapids Sen. Kate Sullivan offered an amendment on select file, adopted 33-0, which added to the bill an operative date of July 1, 2012.

She said the change would coincide with the start of the state’s fiscal year and would allow more time for the transition.

“LB998 as amended represents a major change to how a state agency operates … so I think it’s only right that we make sure this change takes place in a reasonable and logical fashion,” she said.

Following adoption of two technical amendments offered by Krist, lawmakers advanced the bill from select file by voice vote.