SB 373-FN-A - AS INTRODUCED

2002 SESSION

02-3004

05/09

SENATE BILL 373-FN-A

AN ACT relative to state payments to foster care families and making an appropriation therefor.

SPONSORS: Sen. Pignatelli, Dist 13; Sen. Cohen, Dist 24; Sen. McCarley, Dist 6; Sen. Wheeler, Dit 21; Sen. Below, Dist 5; Sen. Fernald, Dist 11; Rep. Arnold, Hills 20; Rep. I. Pratt, Ches 5

COMMITTEE: Public Institutions, Health and Human Services

ANALYSIS

This bill makes an appropriation to the department of health and human services for the purpose of increasing payments to foster care families.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

02-3004

05/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Two

AN ACT relative to state payments to foster care families and making an appropriation therefor.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Foster Care Payments. The sum of $4,380,938 is appropriated to the department of health and human services for the biennium ending June 30, 2003, for the purpose of increasing payments to foster care families so that New Hampshire foster care rates are consistent with the annual expenditures on children in middle-income, 2 parent families as measured by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's "Expenditures on Children by Families, 2000 Annual Report." The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2002.

LBAO

02-3004

10/30/01

SB 373-FN-A - FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to state payments to foster care families and making an appropriation therefor.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Department of Health and Human Services indicates this bill will increase state expenditures by $3,833,320 in FY 2003 and each year thereafter. State revenue from Title IV-E federal funds will increase by $2,190,469 in FY 2003 and each year thereafter. County expenditures will increase by $547,617 in FY 2003 and each year thereafter. There will be no impact on county revenue or local revenue and expenditures.

This bill appropriates $4,380,938 in general funds to the Department of Health and Human Services for the purposes of this act.

METHODOLOGY:

The Department derived a daily rate based on USDA estimated expenditures for children ages 0 through 12 made by a two-parent, middle income family. Health care costs were subtracted, since these cost are already provided to foster children through the Medicaid Program. The resulting rate was compared to the Department's current rate of reimbursement to determine the additional cost per day, per child. Fifty percent of the costs would be reimbursed by the federal government under the Title IV-E Program. The remaining costs are split equally between the state and counties.