Bill > S91

This bill aims to assure quality foster care by working cooperatively with foster parents. Key provisions include: 1) Designating foster parents as public employees solely for the purposes of collective bargaining under Chapter 150E, allowing them to form a bargaining unit and negotiate on various topics like responsibilities, training, payment, and support; 2) Clarifying that collective bargaining agreements supersede any inconsistent prior written agreements between foster parents and the Department of Children and Families; and 3) Stating that the collective bargaining process does not apply to the Department's statutory licensing, monitoring, and enforcement functions.