SENATE DOCKET, NO. 466        FILED ON: 1/19/2011

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 43

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Jennifer L. Flanagan

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to the financial support of foster children.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Jennifer L. Flanagan

 

Carl M. Sciortino, Jr.

34th Middlesex

Susan C. Fargo

 

David B. Sullivan

6th Bristol

Jason M. Lewis

31st Middlesex

Thomas M. McGee

Third Essex

Paul J. Donato

35th Middlesex


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 466        FILED ON: 1/19/2011

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 43

By Ms. Flanagan, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 43) of Jennifer L. Flanagan, Carl M. Sciortino, Jr., Susan C. Fargo, David B. Sullivan and other members of the General Court for legislation to financially support foster children.  Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

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An Act relative to the financial support of foster children.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.:- Section 23 of Chapter 119 as appearing in the 2009 Official Edition shall be amended by striking part (h) in it’s entirety and inserting in place thereof the following new section.

(h) The department shall, provide assistance to foster care families which, within two years of the effective date of this act, shall include maintenance payments at or above the most recent estimated average daily expenditure for a child in the Urban Northeast in the   middle income range as reported by the United States Department of Agriculture.  The department shall periodically review the level of assistance including maintenance payments provided to adoptive and guardianship families and may, subject to appropriation, and consistent with federal law and policy, adjust such assistance as warranted by the financial circumstances of the family, the needs of the child or the rate of inflation.