Eligibility requirements for foster care benefits after age 18 modified to include children for whom permanent legal and physical custody is transferred to a relative after age ten.

A bill for an act

relating to children, youth, and families; modifying eligibility requirements for

foster care benefits after age 18 to include children for whom permanent legal and

physical custody is transferred to a relative after age ten; amending Minnesota

Statutes 2024, sections 256B.055, subdivision 17; 260C.212, subdivision 1;

260C.451, subdivisions 1, 3, 6, by adding a subdivision; 260C.452, subdivision

1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.055, subdivision 17, is amended to read:

Subd. 17.

Adults who were in foster care at the age of 18, 19, or 20.

(a) Medical

assistance may be paid for a person under 26 years of age who was in foster care under the

commissioner's responsibility on the date of attaining 18, 19, or 20 years of age
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or receiving

foster care benefits past age 18 under section 260C.451
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, and who was enrolled in medical

assistance under the state plan or a waiver of the plan while in foster care, in accordance

with section 2004 of the Affordable Care Act.

(b) Medical assistance may be paid for a person under 26 years of age who was in foster

care and enrolled in any state's Medicaid program as provided by Public Law 115-271,

section 1002.

(c) The commissioner shall seek federal waiver approval under United States Code, title

42, section 1315, to include youth who were in a state's foster care program and who turned

age 18 prior to January 1, 2023, without regard to potential eligibility under a Medicaid

mandatory group.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.212, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Out-of-home placement; plan.

(a) An out-of-home placement plan shall

be prepared within 30 days after any child is placed in foster care by court order or a

voluntary placement agreement between the responsible social services agency and the

child's parent pursuant to section
260C.227
or chapter 260D.

(b) An out-of-home placement plan means a written document individualized to the

needs of the child and the child's parents or guardians that is prepared by the responsible

social services agency jointly with the child's parents or guardians and in consultation with

the child's guardian ad litem; the child's tribe, if the child is an Indian child; the child's foster

parent or representative of the foster care facility; and, when appropriate, the child. When

a child is age 14 or older, the child may include two other individuals on the team preparing

the child's out-of-home placement plan. The child may select one member of the case

planning team to be designated as the child's advisor and to advocate with respect to the

application of the reasonable and prudent parenting standards. The responsible social services

agency may reject an individual selected by the child if the agency has good cause to believe

that the individual would not act in the best interest of the child. For a child in voluntary

foster care for treatment under chapter 260D, preparation of the out-of-home placement

plan shall additionally include the child's mental health treatment provider. For a child 18

years of age or older, the responsible social services agency shall involve the child and the

child's parents as appropriate. As appropriate, the plan shall be:

(1) submitted to the court for approval under section
260C.178
, subdivision 7;

(2) ordered by the court, either as presented or modified after hearing, under section

260C.178
, subdivision 7, or
260C.201
, subdivision 6; and

(3) signed by the parent or parents or guardian of the child, the child's guardian ad litem,

a representative of the child's tribe, the responsible social services agency, and, if possible,

the child.

(c) The out-of-home placement plan shall be explained by the responsible social services

agency to all persons involved in the plan's implementation, including the child who has

signed the plan, and shall set forth:

(1) a description of the foster care home or facility selected, including how the

out-of-home placement plan is designed to achieve a safe placement for the child in the

least restrictive, most family-like setting available that is in close proximity to the home of

the child's parents or guardians when the case plan goal is reunification; and how the

placement is consistent with the best interests and special needs of the child according to

the factors under subdivision 2, paragraph (b);

(2) the specific reasons for the placement of the child in foster care, and when

reunification is the plan, a description of the problems or conditions in the home of the

parent or parents that necessitated removal of the child from home and the changes the

parent or parents must make for the child to safely return home;

(3) a description of the services offered and provided to prevent removal of the child

from the home and to reunify the family including:

(i) the specific actions to be taken by the parent or parents of the child to eliminate or

correct the problems or conditions identified in clause (2), and the time period during which

the actions are to be taken; and

(ii) the reasonable efforts, or in the case of an Indian child, active efforts to be made to

achieve a safe and stable home for the child including social and other supportive services

to be provided or offered to the parent or parents or guardian of the child, the child, and the

residential facility during the period the child is in the residential facility;

(4) a description of any services or resources that were requested by the child or the

child's parent, guardian, foster parent, or custodian since the date of the child's placement

in the residential facility, and whether those services or resources were provided and if not,

the basis for the denial of the services or resources;

(5) the visitation plan for the parent or parents or guardian, other relatives as defined in

section
260C.007
, subdivision 26b or 27, and siblings of the child if the siblings are not

placed together in foster care, and whether visitation is consistent with the best interest of

the child, during the period the child is in foster care;

(6) when a child cannot return to or be in the care of either parent, documentation of

steps to finalize adoption as the permanency plan for the child through reasonable efforts

to place the child for adoption pursuant to section
260C.605
. At a minimum, the

documentation must include consideration of whether adoption is in the best interests of

the child and child-specific recruitment efforts such as a relative search, consideration of

relatives for adoptive placement, and the use of state, regional, and national adoption

exchanges to facilitate orderly and timely placements in and outside of the state. A copy of

this documentation shall be provided to the court in the review required under section

260C.317
, subdivision 3, paragraph (b);

(7) when a child cannot return to or be in the care of either parent, documentation of

steps to finalize the transfer of permanent legal and physical custody to a relative as the

permanency plan for the child. This documentation must support the requirements of the

kinship placement agreement under section
142A.605
and must include the reasonable

efforts used to determine that it is not appropriate for the child to return home or be adopted,

and reasons why permanent placement with a relative through a Northstar kinship assistance

arrangement is in the child's best interest; how the child meets the eligibility requirements

for Northstar kinship assistance payments; agency efforts to discuss adoption with the child's

relative foster parent and reasons why the relative foster parent chose not to pursue adoption,

if applicable; and agency efforts to discuss with the child's parent or parents the permanent

transfer of permanent legal and physical custody or the reasons why these efforts were not

made;

(8) efforts to ensure the child's educational stability while in foster care for a child who

attained the minimum age for compulsory school attendance under state law and is enrolled

full time in elementary or secondary school, or instructed in elementary or secondary

education at home, or instructed in an independent study elementary or secondary program,

or incapable of attending school on a full-time basis due to a medical condition that is

documented and supported by regularly updated information in the child's case plan.

Educational stability efforts include:

(i) efforts to ensure that the child remains in the same school in which the child was

enrolled prior to placement or upon the child's move from one placement to another, including

efforts to work with the local education authorities to ensure the child's educational stability

and attendance; or

(ii) if it is not in the child's best interest to remain in the same school that the child was

enrolled in prior to placement or move from one placement to another, efforts to ensure

immediate and appropriate enrollment for the child in a new school;

(9) the educational records of the child including the most recent information available

regarding:

(i) the names and addresses of the child's educational providers;

(ii) the child's grade level performance;

(iii) the child's school record;

(iv) a statement about how the child's placement in foster care takes into account

proximity to the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement; and

(v) any other relevant educational information;

(10) the efforts by the responsible social services agency to ensure the oversight and

continuity of health care services for the foster child, including:

(i) the plan to schedule the child's initial health screens;

(ii) how the child's known medical problems and identified needs from the screens,

including any known communicable diseases, as defined in section
144.4172
, subdivision

2, shall be monitored and treated while the child is in foster care;

(iii) how the child's medical information shall be updated and shared, including the

child's immunizations;

(iv) who is responsible to coordinate and respond to the child's health care needs,

including the role of the parent, the agency, and the foster parent;

(v) who is responsible for oversight of the child's prescription medications;

(vi) how physicians or other appropriate medical and nonmedical professionals shall be

consulted and involved in assessing the health and well-being of the child and determine

the appropriate medical treatment for the child; and

(vii) the responsibility to ensure that the child has access to medical care through either

medical insurance or medical assistance;

(11) the health records of the child including information available regarding:

(i) the names and addresses of the child's health care and dental care providers;

(ii) a record of the child's immunizations;

(iii) the child's known medical problems, including any known communicable diseases

as defined in section
144.4172
, subdivision 2;

(iv) the child's medications; and

(v) any other relevant health care information such as the child's eligibility for medical

insurance or medical assistance;

(12) an independent living plan for a child 14 years of age or older, developed in

consultation with the child. The child may select one member of the case planning team to

be designated as the child's advisor and to advocate with respect to the application of the

reasonable and prudent parenting standards in subdivision 14.
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The responsible social services

agency must also set forth an independent living plan under this clause for a child 14 years

of age or older for whom permanent legal and physical custody is transferred to a relative

after the child is ten years of age, upon the child's request.
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The plan should include, but not

be limited to, the following objectives:

(i) educational, vocational, or employment planning;

(ii) health care planning and medical coverage;

(iii) transportation including, where appropriate, assisting the child in obtaining a driver's

license;

(iv) money management, including the responsibility of the responsible social services

agency to ensure that the child annually receives, at no cost to the child, a consumer report

as defined under section
13C.001
and assistance in interpreting and resolving any inaccuracies

in the report;

(v) planning for housing;

(vi) social and recreational skills;

(vii) establishing and maintaining connections with the child's family and community;

and

(viii) regular opportunities to engage in age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate

activities typical for the child's age group, taking into consideration the capacities of the

individual child;

(13) for a child in voluntary foster care for treatment under chapter 260D, diagnostic

and assessment information, specific services relating to meeting the mental health care

needs of the child, and treatment outcomes;

(14) for a child 14 years of age or older, a signed acknowledgment that describes the

child's rights regarding education, health care, visitation, safety and protection from

exploitation, and court participation; receipt of the documents identified in section
260C.452
;

and receipt of an annual credit report. The acknowledgment shall state that the rights were

explained in an age-appropriate manner to the child; and

(15) for a child placed in a qualified residential treatment program, the plan must include

the requirements in section
260C.708
.

(d) The parent or parents or guardian and the child each shall have the right to legal

counsel in the preparation of the case plan and shall be informed of the right at the time of

placement of the child. The child shall also have the right to a guardian ad litem. If unable

to employ counsel from their own resources, the court shall appoint counsel upon the request

of the parent or parents or the child or the child's legal guardian. The parent or parents may

also receive assistance from any person or social services agency in preparation of the case

plan.

(e) Before an out-of-home placement plan is signed by the parent or parents or guardian

of the child, the responsible social services agency must provide the parent or parents or

guardian with a one- to two-page summary of the plan using a form developed by the

commissioner. The out-of-home placement plan summary must clearly summarize the plan's

contents under paragraph (c) and list the requirements and responsibilities for the parent or

parents or guardian using plain language. The summary must be updated and provided to

the parent or parents or guardian when the out-of-home placement plan is updated under

subdivision 1a.

(f) After the plan has been agreed upon by the parties involved or approved or ordered

by the court, the foster parents shall be fully informed of the provisions of the case plan and

shall be provided a copy of the plan.

(g) Upon the child's discharge from foster care, the responsible social services agency

must provide the child's parent, adoptive parent, or permanent legal and physical custodian,

and the child, if the child is 14 years of age or older, with a current copy of the child's health

and education record. If a child meets the conditions in subdivision 15, paragraph (b), the

agency must also provide the child with the child's social and medical history. The responsible

social services agency may give a copy of the child's health and education record and social

and medical history to a child who is younger than 14 years of age, if it is appropriate and

if subdivision 15, paragraph (b), applies.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.451, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Notification.

Six months prior to the child's 18th birthday, the responsible

social services agency shall provide written notice on a form prescribed by the commissioner

of children, youth, and families to any child in foster care under this chapter who cannot

reasonably be expected to return home or
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have another legally permanent family
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be adopted
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by the age of 18, the child's parents or legal guardian, if any, the child's guardian ad litem,

and the child's foster parents of the availability of foster care up to age 21, when the child

is eligible under subdivisions 3 and 3a.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.451, is amended by adding a subdivision

to read:

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Subd. 1a.

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Definition.

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For purposes of this section, "child in foster care" means a child

in foster care, as defined under section 260C.007, subdivision 18, or a child for whom

permanent legal and physical custody is transferred to a relative under section 260C.515,

subdivision 4, after the child is ten years of age.

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Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.451, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Eligibility to continue in foster care.

A child in foster care immediately prior

to the child's 18th birthday may continue in foster care past age 18 unless:

(1) the child can safely return home;

(2) the child is in placement pursuant to the agency's duties under section
256B.092
and

Minnesota Rules, parts
9525.0004
to
9525.0016
, to meet the child's needs due to a

developmental disability or related condition, and the child will be served as an adult under

section
256B.092
and Minnesota Rules, parts
9525.0004
to
9525.0016
; or

(3) the child can be adopted
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or have permanent legal and physical custody transferred

to a relative
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prior to the child's 18th birthday.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.451, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Reentering foster care and accessing services after 18 years of age and up

to 21 years of age.

(a) Upon request of an individual who had been under the guardianship

of the commissioner and who has left foster care without being adopted, the responsible

social services agency which had been the commissioner's agent for purposes of the

guardianship shall develop with the individual a plan to increase the individual's ability to

live safely and independently using the plan requirements of section
260C.212, subdivision

1
, paragraph (c), clause (12), and to assist the individual to meet one or more of the eligibility

criteria in subdivision 4 if the individual wants to reenter foster care. The responsible social

services agency shall provide foster care as required to implement the plan. The responsible

social services agency shall enter into a voluntary placement agreement under section

260C.229
with the individual if the plan includes foster care.

(b) Individuals who had not been under the guardianship of the commissioner of children,

youth, and families prior to 18 years of age may ask to reenter foster care after age 18 and

the responsible social services agency that had responsibility for planning for the individual

before discharge from foster care shall provide foster care or other services to the individual

for the purpose of increasing the individual's ability to live safely and independently and to

meet the eligibility criteria in subdivision 3a, if the individual:

(1) was in foster care for the six consecutive months prior to the person's 18th birthday,

or left foster care within six months prior to the person's 18th birthday, and was not

discharged home
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,
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or
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adopted
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, or received into a relative's home under a transfer of permanent

legal and physical custody under section
260C.515, subdivision 4
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; or

(2) was discharged from foster care while on runaway status after age 15.

(c) In conjunction with a qualifying and eligible individual under paragraph (b) and

other appropriate persons, the responsible social services agency shall develop a specific

plan related to that individual's vocational, educational, social, or maturational needs and

provide foster care as required to implement the plan. The responsible social services agency

shall enter into a voluntary placement agreement with the individual if the plan includes

foster care.

(d) A child who left foster care while under guardianship of the commissioner of children,

youth, and families retains eligibility for foster care for placement at any time prior to 21

years of age.

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.452, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Scope; purpose.

(a) For purposes of this section, "youth" means a person

who is at least 14 years of age and under 23 years of age.

(b) This section pertains to a youth who:

(1) is in foster care and is 14 years of age or older, including a youth who is under the

guardianship of the commissioner of children, youth, and families;

(2) has a permanency disposition of permanent custody to the agency;

(3) will leave foster care when the youth is 18 years of age or older and under 21 years

of age;

(4) has left foster care due to adoption when the youth was 16 years of age or older;

(5) has left foster care due to a transfer of permanent legal and physical custody to a

relative, or Tribal equivalent,
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when
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after
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the youth was
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16
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ten
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years of age
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or older
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; or

(6) was reunified with the youth's primary caretaker when the youth was 14 years of age

or older and under 18 years of age.

(c) The purpose of this section is to provide support to each youth who is transitioning

to adulthood by providing services to the youth in the areas of:

(1) education;

(2) employment;

(3) daily living skills such as financial literacy training and driving instruction, preventive

health activities including promoting abstinence from substance use and smoking, and

nutrition education and pregnancy prevention;

(4) forming meaningful, permanent connections with caring adults;

(5) engaging in age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate activities under section

260C.212, subdivision 14
, and positive youth development;

(6) financial, housing, counseling, and other services to assist a youth over 18 years of

age in achieving self-sufficiency and accepting personal responsibility for the transition

from adolescence to adulthood; and

(7) making vouchers available for education and training.

(d) The responsible social services agency may provide support and case management

services to a youth as defined in paragraph (a) until the youth reaches 23 years of age.

According to section
260C.451
, a youth's placement in a foster care setting will end when

the youth reaches 21 years of age.