WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2024 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

Senate Bill 718

By Senator Chapman

[Introduced February 8, 2024; referred
 to the Committee on Health and Human Resources; and then to the Committee on Finance]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §49-2-131, relating to ensuring equal financial support by the state for kinship parents and fictive kin as provided to certified foster parents.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 2. STATE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CHILDREN.

§49-2-131.  Financial support for kinship parents and fictive kin as provided to certified foster parents.

(a) The state shall ensure that all available financial support and resources that are currently available to certified foster parents will be given to kinship parents and fictive kin. Neither kinship parents nor fictive kin shall be required to become certified. A safety check and background check are still required for placement.  

(b) This covers all support that is presently provided to foster parents in this article.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to ensure that all financial support presently available to certified foster parents is provided to kinship parents and fictive kin. The barriers and burdens placed upon kinship parents and fictive kin are too onerous.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.