5924583 Resolution 21-431, Supporting Normalcy and Empowering Children in Foster Care Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2016

A RESOLUTION

 

21-431 

 

                              IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

 

March 1, 2016

 

 

To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to amend the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Act of 1977 to include in the definition of case plan additional requirements for children 14 years of age and older, to define the reasonable and prudent parent standard, to require that foster children receive a credit report on an annual basis beginning at 14 years of age, and to require the use of the reasonable and prudent parent standard by foster parents and group homes; and to amend section 16-2323 of the District of Columbia Official Code to require additional reporting requirements for children who have been placed in another planned permanent living arrangement. 

 

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Supporting Normalcy and Empowering Children in Foster Care Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2016”.

 

            Sec. 2.  (a)  Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, approved June 17, 1980 (94 Stat. 501; 42 U.S.C § 670 et seq.) (“Title IV-E”), provides federal funds to states and the District of Columbia for foster care and guardianship and adoption assistance programs.

            (b) The Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act, approved September 29, 2014 (128 Stat. 1941; 42 U.S.C. § 675), requires states and the District, as a condition of receiving Title IV-E funds, to support normalcy for foster children by implementing the reasonable and prudent parent standard, empowering foster children 14 years of age and older by consulting them in the development of their case and transition plans and providing them with credit reports, and improving another planned permanent living arrangement by requiring additional reporting requirements.  

(c)  For the District to be eligible for Title IV-E funding, it must enact legislation by April 1, 2016, that implements the reasonable and prudent standard, empowers foster children 14 years of age and older, and improves the permanency goal of another planned permanent living arrangement.

            (d)  Emergency legislation is necessary to ensure that the District of Columbia maintains compliance with the federal requirements and continues to be eligible for Title IV-E funding.

 

            Sec. 3.  The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Supporting Normalcy and Empowering Children in Foster Care Emergency Amendment Act of 2016 be adopted after a single reading.

 

            Sec. 4.  This resolution shall take effect immediately.