Bill > S101

This bill revises the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, which is an agreement between states to ensure children are placed in safe and suitable homes across state lines in a timely manner, facilitating ongoing supervision, service delivery, and communication between states. It establishes an Interstate Commission for the Placement of Children to oversee the compact, sets definitions for terms like "assessment" (an evaluation of a prospective placement) and "home study" (an evaluation of a home's suitability), and outlines the applicability of the compact, generally covering placements of children subject to court jurisdiction due to abuse or neglect, or those placed as a preliminary step to adoption. The bill also details jurisdictional responsibilities, placement evaluation procedures, and the responsibilities of placing agencies, including financial obligations. Furthermore, it establishes the powers and duties of the Interstate Commission, its organization and operation, rulemaking functions, oversight, dispute resolution, enforcement mechanisms, and financing, while also addressing member state eligibility, effective dates, amendments, withdrawal, and dissolution of the compact, and includes provisions for Indian tribes to utilize the compact. The bill also makes conforming amendments to existing state law to align with the revised compact, designating the department of children and families as the central state compact office.