FIRST REGULAR SESSION
93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE LIESE.
Read 1st time March 31, 2005 and copies ordered printed.
STEPHEN S. DAVIS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal section 453.073, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to subsidies for adopted children.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 453.073, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 453.073, to read as follows:
453.073. 1. The division of family services is authorized to grant a subsidy to a child in one of the forms of allotment defined in section 453.065. Determination of the amount of monetary need is to be made by the division at the time of placement, if practicable, and in reference to the needs of the child, including consideration of the physical and mental condition, and age of the child in each case; provided, however, that the subsidy amount shall not exceed the expenses of foster care and medical care for foster children paid under the homeless, dependent and neglected foster care program.
2. The subsidy shall be paid for children who have been in the care and custody of the division of family services under the homeless, dependent and neglected foster care program. In the case of a child who has been in the care and custody of a private child-caring or child-placing agency or in the care and custody of the division of youth services or the department of mental health, a subsidy shall be available from the division of family services subsidy program in the same manner and under the same circumstances and conditions as provided for a child who has been in the care and custody of the division of family services.
3. Within thirty days after the authorization for the grant of a subsidy by the division of family services, a written agreement shall be entered into by the division and the parents. The agreement shall set forth the following terms and conditions:
(1) The type of allotment;
(2) The amount of assistance payments;
(3) The services to be provided;
(4) The time period for which the subsidy is granted, if that period is reasonably ascertainable;
(5) The obligation of the parents to inform the division when they are no longer providing support to the child or when events affect the subsidy eligibility of the child;
(6) The eligibility of the child for Medicaid.
4. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the subsidy provided under this section and any subsidies provided to foster families shall be subject to the following:
(1) The subsidy shall be available to families with a household income of up to three hundred percent of the federal poverty level;
(2) If a family agrees to adopt or act as a foster family for more than one child or a group of two or more siblings in the custody of the state, such family shall automatically qualify for the subsidy and no means test shall be applied to such family; and
(3) All children in the custody of the state who are adopted or placed with a foster family shall automatically be eligible for assistance under the state Medicaid program and for subsidized child care until such child reaches the age of thirteen. No means test shall be applied for such children to determine whether the family is eligible for a maintenance subsidy.