2001 Legislation
Print Friendly

HOUSE BILL NO. 60 – Child care licnse/group home delete

HOUSE BILL NO. 60

View Daily Data Tracking History

View Bill Text

View Amendment

View Engrossed Bill (Original Bill with Amendment(s) Incorporated)

View Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact



Text to be added within a bill has been marked with Bold and
Underline. Text to be removed has been marked with
Strikethrough and Italic. How these codes are actually displayed will
vary based on the browser software you are using.

This sentence is marked with bold and underline to show added text.

This sentence is marked with strikethrough and italic, indicating
text to be removed.

Daily Data Tracking History



H0060aa...............................................by HEALTH AND WELFARE
CHILD CARE LICENSING - GROUP HOMES - Amends and repeals existing law to
delete references to group homes; to edit the references to children's
residential care facilities; and to provide for continued care for certain
individuals between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one years when
conditions warrant.
                                                                        
01/17    House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
01/18    Rpt prt - to Health/Wel
02/27    Rpt out - to Gen Ord
02/28    Rpt out amen - to engros
03/01    Rpt engros - 1st rdg - to 2nd rdg as amen
03/02    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg as amen
03/05    3rd rdg as amen - PASSED - 62-0-8
      AYES -- Barraclough, Barrett, Bedke, Bell, Bieter, Black, Boe, Bolz,
      Bradford, Bruneel, Callister, Campbell, Chase, Clark, Collins, Crow,
      Cuddy, Deal, Denney, Ellis, Ellsworth, Field(20), Gagner, Gould,
      Hadley, Hammond, Harwood, Hornbeck, Jaquet, Jones, Kellogg, Kendell,
      Kunz, Lake, Langford, Loertscher, Mader, Marley, McKague, Meyer,
      Montgomery, Mortensen, Moss, Moyle, Pearce, Pischner, Pomeroy,
      Ridinger, Roberts, Robison, Sali, Schaefer, Sellman, Shepherd, Smith,
      Smylie, Stone, Swan, Tilman, Trail, Young, Mr. Speaker
      NAYS -- None
      Absent and excused -- Eskridge, Field(13), Henbest, Higgins,
      Raybould, Stevenson, Wheeler, Wood
    Floor Sponsors -- Montgomery & Jaquet
    Title apvd - to Senate
03/06    Senate intro - 1st rdg - to Health/Wel
03/08    Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg as amen
03/09    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg as amen
03/19    3rd rdg as amen - PASSED - 35-0-0
      AYES -- Andreason, Boatright, Branch, Brandt, Bunderson, Burtenshaw,
      Cameron, Danielson, Darrington, Davis, Deide, Dunklin, Frasure,
      Geddes, Goedde, Hawkins, Ingram, Ipsen, Keough, King-Barrutia, Lee,
      Lodge, Noh, Richardson, Risch, Sandy, Schroeder, Sims, Sorensen,
      Stegner, Stennett, Thorne, Wheeler, Whitworth, Williams,
      NAYS -- None
      Absent and excused -- None
    Floor Sponsors -- Lodge & Darrington
    Title apvd - to House
03/20    To enrol
03/21    Rpt enrol - Sp signed
    Pres signed
03/22    To Governor
03/22    Governor signed
         Session Law Chapter 93
         Effective: 07/01/01

Bill Text


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
 Fifty-sixth Legislature                  First Regular Session - 2001
                                                                        
                                                                        
                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                                                                        
                                     HOUSE BILL NO. 60
                                                                        
                              BY HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO CHILD CARE LICENSING;  AMENDING  SECTIONS  16-1623,  33-1002B  AND
  3        33-1404,  IDAHO CODE, TO STRIKE REFERENCE TO GROUP HOMES; AMENDING SECTION
  4        36-401, IDAHO CODE, TO STRIKE REFERENCE TO GROUP HOMES AND TO EDIT  REFER-
  5        ENCE  TO CHILDREN'S RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES; AMENDING SECTION 39-1202,
  6        IDAHO CODE, TO FURTHER DEFINE TERMS AND TO MAKE  A  TECHNICAL  CORRECTION;
  7        AMENDING  SECTION 39-1205, IDAHO CODE, TO STRIKE REFERENCE TO GROUP HOMES,
  8        TO EDIT REFERENCE TO CHILDREN'S RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES AND TO  DELETE
  9        JUVENILE  DETENTION CENTERS; REPEALING SECTION 39-1208, IDAHO CODE; AMEND-
 10        ING SECTIONS 39-1210 AND 39-1211, IDAHO CODE, TO STRIKE REFERENCE TO GROUP
 11        HOMES, TO EDIT REFERENCE TO CHILDREN'S RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES AND  TO
 12        MAKE  TECHNICAL  CORRECTIONS;  AMENDING  SECTION  39-1213,  IDAHO CODE, TO
 13        STRIKE REFERENCE TO GROUP HOMES, TO EDIT REFERENCE TO CHILDREN'S  RESIDEN-
 14        TIAL  CARE  FACILITIES,  TO  PROVIDE ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY TO THE BOARD FOR
 15        PROVISION OF CONTINUED CARE, AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL  CORRECTIONS;  AMENDING
 16        SECTIONS  39-1214,  39-1216,  39-1217, 39-1220, 39-1221 AND 39-1222, IDAHO
 17        CODE, TO STRIKE  REFERENCE  TO  GROUP  HOMES  AND  TO  EDIT  REFERENCE  TO
 18        CHILDREN'S RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES.
                                                                        
 19    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
 20        SECTION  1.  That  Section 16-1623, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 21    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 22        16-1623.  POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT. The department, working  in
 23    conjunction  with the court and other public and private agencies and persons,
 24    shall have the primary responsibility to implement the purpose of  this  chap-
 25    ter.  To  this  end, the department is empowered and shall have the duty to do
 26    all things reasonably necessary to carry out  the  purpose  of  this  chapter,
 27    including, but not limited to, the following:
 28        (a)  The department shall administer treatment programs for the protection
 29    and  care  of  neglected,  abused  and abandoned children, and in so doing may
 30    place in foster care, shelter care, group homes or  other  diagnostic,  treat-
 31    ment,  or  care centers or facilities, children of whom it has been given cus-
 32    tody. The department is to be governed by the standards found in  chapter  12,
 33    title 39, Idaho Code.
 34        (b)  On December 1, the department shall make an annual statistical report
 35    to the governor covering the preceding fiscal year showing the number and sta-
 36    tus  of  persons  in its custody and including such other data as will provide
 37    sufficient facts for sound planning in the conservation of children and youth.
 38    All officials and employees of the state and of every county  and  city  shall
 39    furnish  the  department upon request, such information within their knowledge
 40    and control as the department deems necessary. Local agencies shall report  in
 41    such uniform format as may be required by the department.
 42        (c)  The  department  shall be required to maintain a central registry for
 43    the reporting of child neglect, abuse and abandonment information.
                                                                        
                                           2
                                                                        
  1        (d)  The department shall make periodic evaluation of all persons  in  its
  2    custody or under its supervision for the purpose of determining whether exist-
  3    ing orders and dispositions in individual cases shall be modified or continued
  4    in  force.  Evaluations  may be made as frequently as the department considers
  5    desirable and shall be made with respect to every   person  at  intervals  not
  6    exceeding  six (6) months. Reports of evaluation made pursuant to this section
  7    shall be filed with the court which vested custody  of  the  person  with  the
  8    department.  Reports of evaluation shall be provided to persons having full or
  9    partial legal or physical custody of a child. Failure  of  the  department  to
 10    evaluate  a  person  or  to reevaluate him within six (6) months of a previous
 11    examination shall not of itself entitle the person to a change in  disposition
 12    but  shall  entitle  him,  his parent, guardian or custodian or his counsel to
 13    petition the court pursuant to section 16-1611, Idaho Code.
 14        (e)  In a consultive capacity, the department shall assist communities  in
 15    the  development  of  constructive programs for the protection, prevention and
 16    care of children and youth.
 17        (f)  The department shall keep written records of investigations,  evalua-
 18    tions,  prognosis  and all orders concerning disposition or treatment of every
 19    person over whom it has legal custody. Department records shall be subject  to
 20    disclosure  according  to  chapter  3,  title  9, Idaho Code, unless otherwise
 21    ordered by the court, the person consents to the disclosure, or disclosure  is
 22    necessary for the delivery of services to the person. Notwithstanding the pro-
 23    visions  restricting  disclosure or the exemptions from disclosure provided in
 24    chapter 3, title 9, Idaho Code, all records pertaining to investigations,  the
 25    rehabilitation  of  youth,  the  protection of children, evaluation, treatment
 26    and/or disposition records pertaining to the statutory responsibilities of the
 27    department shall be disclosed to any duly elected state official carrying  out
 28    his official functions.
 29        (g)  The  department shall establish appropriate administrative procedures
 30    for the processing of complaints  of  child  neglect,  abuse  and  abandonment
 31    received  and  for the implementation of the protection, treatment and care of
 32    children formally or informally placed in the custody of the department  under
 33    this chapter.
 34        (h)  The  department having been granted legal custody of a child, subject
 35    to the judicial review provisions of this subsection, shall have the right  to
 36    determine  where  and  with whom the child shall live, provided that the child
 37    shall not be placed outside the state without the  court's  consent.  Provided
 38    however, that the court shall retain jurisdiction over the child, which juris-
 39    diction  shall  be  entered on any order or petition granting legal custody to
 40    the department, and the court shall have jurisdiction over all matters  relat-
 41    ing  to  the  child. The department shall not place the child in the home from
 42    which the court ordered the child removed without first obtaining the approval
 43    of the court.
 44        (i)  The department shall give to the court any information concerning the
 45    child that the court may at any time require, but in any  event  shall  report
 46    the  progress of the child under its custody at intervals of not to exceed six
 47    (6) months. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that if a child is  placed
 48    in  the  custody of the department and was also placed in out of the home care
 49    for a period not less than fifteen (15) out of the last twenty-two (22) months
 50    from the date the child entered shelter care, the department shall initiate  a
 51    petition  for termination of parental rights. This presumption may be rebutted
 52    by a finding of the court that the filing of a  petition  for  termination  of
 53    parental  rights would not be in the best interests of the child or reasonable
 54    efforts have not been provided to reunite the child with his  family,  or  the
 55    child is placed permanently with a relative.
                                                                        
                                           3
                                                                        
  1        (j)  The  department shall establish appropriate administrative procedures
  2    for the conduct of administrative reviews and hearings as required by  federal
  3    statute for all children committed to the department and placed in out of home
  4    care.
  5        (k)  At  any  time  the  department is considering a placement pursuant to
  6    this act, the department shall make a reasonable effort to place the child  in
  7    the  least  disruptive  environment to the child and in so doing may consider,
  8    without limitation, placement of the child with related persons.
                                                                        
  9        SECTION 2.  That Section 33-1002B, Idaho Code, be, and the same is  hereby
 10    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 11        33-1002B.  PUPIL  TUITION-EQUIVALENCY  ALLOWANCES. 1. Districts which edu-
 12    cate pupils placed by Idaho court order in  licensed  group  homes,  agencies,
 13    institutions  or juvenile detention facilities shall be eligible for an allow-
 14    ance equivalent to the previous year's certified local annual tuition rate per
 15    pupil. This district allowance shall be in addition to  support  unit  funding
 16    and  included  in district apportionment payments, subject to approval of dis-
 17    trict applications by the state superintendent of public instruction.
 18        2.  Districts which educate school age special education students who, due
 19    to the nature and severity of their disabilities are residing in licensed pub-
 20    lic or private residential facilities or homes,  and  whose  parents  are  not
 21    patrons  of the district, shall be eligible for an allowance equivalent to the
 22    previous year's certified local annual tuition rate per child plus the  excess
 23    cost  rate  that  is annually determined by the state superintendent of public
 24    instruction. This district allowance shall be in addition to exceptional  edu-
 25    cation  support  unit funding and included in district apportionment payments,
 26    subject to approval of district applications by the  state  superintendent  of
 27    public instruction.
                                                                        
 28        SECTION  3.  That  Section 33-1404, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 29    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 30        33-1404.  DISTRICTS TO RECEIVE PUPILS. Every school district shall receive
 31    and admit pupils transferred thereto, where payment of their tuition is to  be
 32    paid  by  the  home district, or waived by the receiving district, except when
 33    any such transfer would work  a  hardship  on  the  receiving  district.  Each
 34    receiving  school  district  shall  be  governed by written policy guidelines,
 35    adopted by the board of trustees, which define hardship impact upon  the  dis-
 36    trict  or upon an individual school within the district. The policy shall pro-
 37    vide specific standards for  acceptance  and  rejection  of  applications  for
 38    accepting  out  of  district  pupils.  Standards may include the capacity of a
 39    program, class, grade level or school building. Standards may not include pre-
 40    vious  academic  achievement,  athletic  or  other  extracurricular   ability,
 41    handicapping conditions, or proficiency in the English language.
 42        Nonresident  pupils  who are placed by court order under provisions of the
 43    Idaho youth rehabilitation or child protective acts  and  reside  in  licensed
 44    group  homes,  agencies and institutions shall be received and admitted by the
 45    school district in which the facility is located without payment of tuition.
 46        Homeless children and youth as defined by the Stewart B. McKinney homeless
 47    assistance act (P.L. 100-77), may attend any school district or school  within
 48    a  district without payment of tuition when it is determined to be in the best
 49    interest of that child.
                                                                        
 50        SECTION 4.  That Section 36-401, Idaho Code, be, and the  same  is  hereby
                                                                        
                                           4
                                                                        
  1    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
  2        36-401.  HUNTING,  TRAPPING, FISHING -- LICENSE REQUIREMENT -- EXCEPTIONS.
  3    No person shall hunt, trap, or fish for or take any wild animal, bird or  fish
  4    of  this  state,  without  first having procured a license as hereinafter pro-
  5    vided. Provided that no license shall be required:
  6        (a)  1.  For children under the age of fourteen (14) years who  are  resi-
  7        dents of this state to fish during the open season therefor.
  8        2.  For  nonresident children under the age of fourteen (14) years to fish
  9        during the open season therefor  provided  they  are  accompanied  by  the
 10        holder  of  a  valid  fishing  license, and provided further that any fish
 11        caught by such nonresident children shall be included in the bag and  pos-
 12        session limit of such license holder.
 13        3.  For resident children under the age of twelve (12) years to hunt, take
 14        or  kill predatory, unprotected birds and animals by means other than with
 15        firearms.
 16        4.  For resident children under the age of fourteen  (14)  years  to  trap
 17        muskrats from irrigation ditches or property on which they live during the
 18        open season.
 19        5.  For children under the age of eighteen (18) years who are residents of
 20        a  licensed  foster home, a foster group home, or a child welfare institu-
 21        tion children's residential care facility to fish during the  open  season
 22        therefor,  provided  they  are accompanied and supervised by the director,
 23        officer, or other employee of the facility where the child resides.
 24        (b)  For any person to fish on a "free fishing day" as may  be  designated
 25    by the commission.
 26        (c)  Institutional  Inmates.  For  any inmate of the state hospital north,
 27    state hospital south, Idaho state school  and  hospital,  and  state  veterans
 28    homes  to fish during open seasons, provided said inmate has a permit therefor
 29    from the director. The director is authorized to issue such permits  upon  the
 30    request  of  the  head  of  the  respective institution having custody of said
 31    inmate upon a showing that the institution recommends  the  issuance  of  such
 32    permit  and  will  assume full responsibility for and control over said inmate
 33    while using said permit.
 34        (d)  State Juvenile Corrections Center Students. For students of the state
 35    juvenile corrections center, under the supervision of an officer of  the  cen-
 36    ter, to fish during the open season.
 37        (e)  Boy  Scouts.  For  boy scouts who are official participants in atten-
 38    dance at national or international encampments at Farragut State Park to  take
 39    fish  during  the  encampment  period from Lake Pend Oreille in such areas and
 40    such numbers as may be designated by the commission.
 41        (f)  Participants in Fish and Game Sponsored Functions.  For  persons  who
 42    are official participants in attendance at official department sponsored func-
 43    tions  including clinics, courses or other educational events, while under the
 44    supervision of a department approved instructor for the function, to fish dur-
 45    ing any open season, provided that the instructor has been  issued  an  educa-
 46    tional fishing permit by the director.
 47        (g)  Nothing  contained  herein shall be construed to prohibit citizens of
 48    the United States who are residents of the state of Idaho from  carrying  arms
 49    for the protection of life and property.
                                                                        
 50        SECTION  5.  That  Section 39-1202, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 51    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 52        39-1202.  DEFINITIONS. For the purposes of this chapter:
                                                                        
                                           5
                                                                        
  1        (1)  "Board" means the Idaho board of health and welfare.
  2        (2)  "Child care" means that care, control, supervision or maintenance  of
  3    children  for twenty-four (24) hours a day which is provided as an alternative
  4    to parental care.
  5        (3)  "Child" means an individual less than eighteen (18) years of age  who
  6    is not enrolled in an institution of higher education.
  7        (4)  "Children's  agency"  means  a person who operates a business for the
  8    placement of children in foster homes or group homes or for adoption in a per-
  9    manent home and who does not provide child care  as  part  of  that  business.
 10    Children's  agency does not include a licensed attorney or physician assisting
 11    or providing natural and adoptive parents with legal services or medical  ser-
 12    vices necessary to initiate and complete adoptive placements.
 13        (5)  "Children's  camp"  means  a program of child care at a location away
 14    from the child's home which is primarily recreational and includes  the  over-
 15    night  accommodation  of  the  child and is not intended to provide treatment,
 16    therapy or rehabilitation for the child.
 17        (6)  "Children's institution" means a person who  operates  a  residential
 18    facility for children not related to that person if that person is an individ-
 19    ual, for the purpose of providing child care. Children's institutions include,
 20    but  are  not limited to, foster homes, group homes, maternity homes, juvenile
 21    detention centers and other residential facilities referenced in the  juvenile
 22    justice reform act, or any facilities providing treatment, therapy or rehabil-
 23    itation  for  children. Children's institutions do not include: (a) facilities
 24    which provide only day care as defined in chapter 11, title  39,  Idaho  Code;
 25    (b)  facilities  and agencies including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities,
 26    intermediate care facilities, and intermediate care facilities  for  the  men-
 27    tally  retarded licensed pursuant to chapter 13, title 39, Idaho Code; (c) day
 28    schools; (d) individuals acting in an advisory capacity, counseling a child in
 29    a religious context, and providing no child care associated with  the  advice;
 30    (e)  the  occasional or irregular care of a neighbor's, relative's or friend's
 31    child or children by a person not ordinarily engaged in child care.
 32        (7)  "Children's treatment residential care facility" means  a  children's
 33    institution, excluding:
 34        (a)  Foster homes;
 35        (b)  Group homes;
 36        (c)  Juvenile detention centers;
 37        (d)  Residential schools;
 38        (ec)  Children's camps.
 39        No  facility expressly excluded from the definition of a children's insti-
 40    tution is included within the definition of a children's treatment residential
 41    care facility.
 42        (8)  "Continued care" means the ongoing placement of an  individual  in  a
 43    foster  home,  children's  residential  care  facility, or transitional living
 44    placement who reaches the age of eighteen (18) years but is less than  twenty-
 45    one (21) years of age.
 46        (9)  "Day  school"  means a public, private, parochial or secular facility
 47    offering an educational program in which the children leave the facility  each
 48    day at the conclusion of the academic, vocational or school supervised activi-
 49    ties.
 50        (910)  "Department" means the state department of health and welfare.
 51        (101)  "Director"  means the director of the department of health and wel-
 52    fare.
 53        (112)  "Foster care" means child care by  a  person  not  related  to  the
 54    child, in lieu of parental care, in a foster home.
 55        (123)  "Foster  home" means a home which accepts, for any period  of time,
                                                                        
                                           6
                                                                        
  1    with or without compensation, one (1) or more children who are not related  to
  2    the  foster  parent  as  members of the household for the purpose of providing
  3    substitute parental care.
  4        (134)  "Group care" means foster care of a number  of  children  for  whom
  5    child care in a family setting is not available or appropriate, in a dormitory
  6    or  cottage type setting, characterized by activities and discipline of a more
  7    regimented and less formal nature than found in a family setting.
  8        (14)  "Group home" means a residential facility providing group care.
  9        (15)  "Juvenile detention" means the temporary child care of juveniles who
 10    require secure custody pursuant to the juvenile justice reform act, as defined
 11    in section 16-1802(i), Idaho Code, for their own or  the  community's  protec-
 12    tion.
 13        (16)  "Juvenile  detention center" means a physically restrictive facility
 14    for juveniles pending court adjudication or subsequent to court  adjudication,
 15    as defined in section 16-1802(j), Idaho Code.
 16        (17)  "Person" includes any individual, group of individuals, association,
 17    partnership, limited liability company or corporation.
 18        (18)  "Placement"  means  finding a suitable licensed foster home or suit-
 19    able adoptive home for a child and completing the arrangements for a child  to
 20    be accepted into and adjusted to such home.
 21        (19)  "Representative" means an employee of the state department of health
 22    and welfare.
 23        (20)  "Residential  facility"  means any facility where child care is pro-
 24    vided, as defined in this section, and which provides day and night accommoda-
 25    tion.
 26        (21)  "Residential school"  means  a  residential  facility  for  children
 27    which:
 28        (a)  Provides a planned, scheduled, regular, academic or vocational school
 29        program  for  students  in  the  elementary, middle or secondary grades as
 30        defined in section 33-1001, Idaho Code; and
 31        (b)  Provides services substantially comparable to those provided in  non-
 32        residential nonresidential public schools where the primary purpose is the
 33        education and academic pursuits of the students; and
 34        (c)  Does  not seek, receive or enroll students for treatment of such spe-
 35        cial needs as substance  abuse,  mental  illness,  emotional  disturbance,
 36        developmental disability or mental retardation; and
 37        (d)  Is not:
 38             (i)   A college or university; or
 39             (ii)  A children's camp as defined in this section; or
 40             (iii) A  public or private day school in which the children leave the
 41             facility each day at the conclusion of the academic,  vocational  and
 42             school supervised activities.
 43        (22) "Transitional  living"  means  living arrangements and aftercare ser-
 44    vices for children, or as continued care, to gain experience living  on  their
 45    own in a supportive and supervised environment prior to emancipation.
                                                                        
 46        SECTION  6.  That  Section 39-1205, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 47    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 48        39-1205.  EVALUATION OF DISCLOSURE REPORTS. The  department  shall  review
 49    all  initial  and  annual  update disclosure reports and shall categorize each
 50    children's institution, based on the type of care provided, into  one  (1)  of
 51    the following categories:
 52        (1)  Foster homes;
 53        (2)  Group homes;
                                                                        
                                           7
                                                                        
  1        (3)  Juvenile detention centers;
  2        (4)  Residential schools;
  3        (53)  Children's camps; or
  4        (64)  Each children's institution not otherwise categorized in subsections
  5        (1)  through  (53) of this section, except any day school, shall be desig-
  6        nated as a "children's treatment residential care facility."
                                                                        
  7        SECTION 7.  That Section 39-1208, Idaho Code, be, and the same  is  hereby
  8    repealed.
                                                                        
  9        SECTION  8.  That  Section 39-1210, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 10    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 11        39-1210.  STANDARDS FOR CHILDREN'S TREATMENT RESIDENTIAL CARE  FACILITIES.
 12    The  board of health and welfare shall have the power and it shall be its duty
 13    to promulgate appropriate rules and regulations  necessary  to  implement  and
 14    enforce  the following standards for licensing a children's treatment residen-
 15    tial care facility:
 16        (1)  Assure the  organizational  stability  of  the  facility,  which  may
 17    require incorporation under the laws of Idaho.
 18        (2)  Require  from the policy-making authority of the facility the promul-
 19    gation of a statement setting forth the facility's purposes and objectives and
 20    describing the character and extent of the services which it offers and  main-
 21    tains, and the geographical area to be served.
 22        (3)  Require a statement of solvency sufficient to maintain facilities and
 23    personnel necessary to achieve its purposes and objectives and to maintain its
 24    services.
 25        (4)  Assure  such  record-keeping  recordkeeping  and  reporting as may be
 26    deemed necessary to the facility's services and to the department's  licensing
 27    responsibility.
 28        (5)  Assure the safety and physical care of children for whom the facility
 29    assumes or accepts responsibility.
 30        (6)  Establish  the  legal  status of each child accepted for care and the
 31    legal authority and responsibility of the facility for the child.
 32        (7)  Require a statement of intake policy which shall set  forth  criteria
 33    for  accepting children for care or service in relation to the facility's pur-
 34    poses and facilities.
 35        (8)  Provide through observation and collateral  inquiry  for  studies  of
 36    homes into which children may be placed sufficient to enable a judgment deter-
 37    mining  the  adequacy  of  the homes in relation to the needs of the children;
 38    and.
 39        (9)  In the case of an  institution  specializing  in  maternity  care  to
 40    unmarried mothers:
 41        (a)  Assure social services on behalf of both the mother and infant; and
 42        (b)  Assure  protection  of  the  legal  rights and rights to confidential
 43        treatment of minor unmarried mothers and their  children  which  shall  be
 44        subject to disclosure according to chapter 3, title 9, Idaho Code.
 45        (10)  The  department shall obtain a criminal history check on the owners,
 46    operators and employees of all children's treatment residential  care  facili-
 47    ties. The criminal history check shall include the following:
 48        (a)  Statewide criminal identification bureau;
 49        (b)  Federal bureau of investigation (FBI) criminal history;
 50        (c)  National crime information center; and
 51        (d)  Statewide child abuse register.
                                                                        
                                           8
                                                                        
  1        SECTION  9.  That  Section 39-1211, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
  2    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
  3        39-1211.  STANDARDS FOR FOSTER HOMES AND GROUP HOMES --  BOARD  AUTHORIZED
  4    TO  IMPLEMENT  AND  ENFORCE.  The  board  of health and welfare shall have the
  5    power, and it shall be its duty to promulgate appropriate  rules  and  regula-
  6    tions necessary to implement and enforce the following standards for licensing
  7    private  foster  homes  and  group homes pursuant to this chapter. The board's
  8    rules and regulations for group homes may be separate from rules  and  regula-
  9    tions for foster homes. Such rules and regulations shall:
 10        (1)  Require  evidence  of income and resources sufficient to maintain the
 11    home and the services offered.
 12        (2)  Require such record-keeping  recordkeeping  and  reporting  regarding
 13    children's status and progress as may be deemed necessary.
 14        (3)  Assure the safety and adequate physical care of children under care.
 15        (4)  Require  that  foster parents be physically and emotionally suited to
 16    care for unrelated children and to deal with problems  presented  by  children
 17    away  from  their own homes and own parents and shall require a criminal back-
 18    ground check.
 19        Provided, however, nothing in this chapter shall be construed to cover the
 20    occasional or irregular care of a neighbor's, relative's or friend's child  or
 21    children by a person not ordinarily engaged in child care.
                                                                        
 22        SECTION  10.  That Section 39-1213, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 23    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 24        39-1213.  LICENSING AUTHORITY. (a) The board  of  health  and  welfare  is
 25    hereby  authorized  and  directed to establish procedures for licensing foster
 26    homes, group homes, children's agencies and children's  treatment  residential
 27    care  facilities  which  are  maintained  and  operated in conformity with the
 28    rules, regulations and standards  authorized  herein.  Such  procedures  shall
 29    include  the manner and form for making application for license, investigation
 30    upon application and notice of decision.
 31        (b)  It is recognized that children's agencies may have their  own  proce-
 32    dure  for  approval  of foster homes affiliated with their program. Any foster
 33    home which has been approved by a licensed children's agency shall  be  exempt
 34    from the licensing provisions of this chapter, provided that the standards for
 35    approval  by  such  agency are no less restrictive than rules, regulations and
 36    standards established by the board of health and welfare, and provided further
 37    that such children's agency is maintained  and  operated  in  conformity  with
 38    rules, regulations and standards of the board of health and welfare. The board
 39    of health and welfare may promulgate rules and regulations necessary to imple-
 40    ment the provisions of this section.
 41        (c)  The  board  of  health  and welfare is hereby authorized to establish
 42    rules allowing for continued care for appropriate individuals eighteen (18) to
 43    twenty-one (21) years of age who have been receiving services by, through,  or
 44    with  the authorization of the department of health and welfare or the depart-
 45    ment of juvenile corrections prior to their eighteenth  birthday.
                                                                        
 46        SECTION 11.  That Section 39-1214, Idaho Code, be, and the same is  hereby
 47    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 48        39-1214.  ELIGIBILITY FOR LICENSE. Any foster home, group home, children's
 49    agency  or  children's treatment residential care facility which applies for a
 50    license in the manner and form prescribed by the board of health  and  welfare
                                                                        
                                           9
                                                                        
  1    and is found upon investigation by the department to be established in confor-
  2    mity  with  the rules, regulations and standards established by the department
  3    under the authority conferred herein shall be licensed for a period of one (1)
  4    year.
                                                                        
  5        SECTION 12.  That Section 39-1216, Idaho Code, be, and the same is  hereby
  6    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
  7        39-1216.  PROVISIONAL  LICENSE.  Upon  initial  investigation,  should  an
  8    applicant  for  a  license  be unable to meet a standard because of conditions
  9    that are unlikely to endure beyond six (6) months from the date of such inves-
 10    tigation, the department may, if in its judgment the health and safety of  any
 11    child  is not thereby endangered, issue a provisional license for a period not
 12    to exceed six (6) months. No more than one (1) provisional  license  shall  be
 13    issued  to  the  same foster home, group home, children's agency or children's
 14    treatment residential care facility in any twelve (12) month period.
                                                                        
 15        SECTION 13.  That Section 39-1217, Idaho Code, be, and the same is  hereby
 16    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 17        39-1217.  VISITATION.   For  the  purpose  of  determining  whether  every
 18    licensed foster home, licensed group  home,  licensed  children's  agency  and
 19    licensed  children's  treatment  residential care facility  consistently main-
 20    tains conformity with the standards established under the authority  conferred
 21    herein, the department, through an authorized representative, shall visit each
 22    such home and facility as often as it deems necessary or desirable, but in any
 23    event at intervals not to exceed twelve (12) months.
                                                                        
 24        SECTION  14.  That Section 39-1220, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 25    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 26        39-1220.  OPERATING WITHOUT LICENSE MISDEMEANOR. Any person or persons who
 27    operate a foster home, group home, children's agency or  children's  treatment
 28    residential  care  facility,  within  this  state,  without  first obtaining a
 29    license as provided in this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. However,
 30    in the event of an initial citation for violation of the  provisions  of  this
 31    section,  if  a person makes the application required within thirty (30) days,
 32    the complaint shall be dismissed. The penalty for violation of the  provisions
 33    of  this  section shall be three hundred dollars ($300) for each day of a con-
 34    tinuing violation, which penalty shall accrue from thirty (30) days  following
 35    the initial notice of violation in the event of a finding of violation.
                                                                        
 36        SECTION  15.  That Section 39-1221, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 37    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 38        39-1221.  REMOVAL OF CHILDREN. Any child or children receiving child  care
 39    in  a group home or children's treatment residential care facility found to be
 40    operating without a license may be removed from such home, agency or  institu-
 41    tion  upon  order  of the magistrate court of the county in which the child is
 42    receiving care and returned to the child's own home, or placed in the  custody
 43    of the department if the child's custodial parent is not available. The prose-
 44    cuting attorneys of the several counties shall represent the department at all
 45    stages  of  the  proceedings before the magistrate court. The magistrate court
 46    shall retain jurisdiction relative to child custody pursuant to the provisions
 47    of this section. In the event that the  prosecuting  attorney  in  the  county
                                                                        
                                           10
                                                                        
  1    where the alleged violation occurred fails or refuses to act within sixty (60)
  2    days  of  notification of the violation, the attorney general is authorized to
  3    prosecute violations under this chapter.
                                                                        
  4        SECTION 16.  That Section 39-1222, Idaho Code, be, and the same is  hereby
  5    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
  6        39-1222.  ACTION  AGAINST  UNLICENSED  FOSTER HOME, GROUP HOME, CHILDREN'S
  7    AGENCY OR CHILDREN'S TREATMENT RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITY. Notwithstanding  the
  8    existence  or  pursuit of any other remedy, the department shall, upon showing
  9    good cause to the prosecuting attorney who shall represent the  department  in
 10    the  proceeding, maintain an action in the name of the state for injunction or
 11    other process against a person as defined herein who shall  hereafter  operate
 12    or  maintain  any  foster  home,  group  home, children's agency or children's
 13    treatment residential care facility without first  having  secured  a  license
 14    pursuant  to the provisions of this chapter. Upon a finding that the safety of
 15    children at a foster home, group home, children's agency or children's  treat-
 16    ment residential care facility is endangered, the department has the authority
 17    to immediately revoke a license.

Amendment


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
 Fifty-sixth Legislature                  First Regular Session - 2001
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                     Moved by    Montgomery          
                                                                        
                                                     Seconded by Jaquet              
                                                                        
                                                                        
                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                               HOUSE AMENDMENT TO H.B. NO. 60
                                                                        
                                                                        
  1                               AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 5
  2        On page 6 of the printed bill, in line  9,  delete  "means  the  temporary
  3    child  care  of juveniles who"; delete lines 10 through 12, and insert: "means
  4    the temporary child care of juveniles who require secure custody  pursuant  to
  5    the juvenile justice reform act, as defined in section 16-1802(i), Idaho Code,
  6    for  their  own  or  the  community's  protection  is  as  defined  in section
  7    20-502(6), Idaho Code, of the juvenile corrections act."; in line  13,  delete
  8    "physically restrictive" and insert: "physically restrictive"; delete lines 14
  9    and 15, and insert: "for juveniles pending court adjudication or subsequent to
 10    court  adjudication,  as defined in section 16-1802(j) established pursuant to
 11    sections 20-517 and 20-518".

Engrossed Bill (Original Bill with Amendment(s) Incorporated)


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
 Fifty-sixth Legislature                  First Regular Session - 2001
                                                                        
                                                                        
                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                                                                        
                               HOUSE BILL NO. 60, As Amended
                                                                        
                              BY HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO CHILD CARE LICENSING;  AMENDING  SECTIONS  16-1623,  33-1002B  AND
  3        33-1404,  IDAHO CODE, TO STRIKE REFERENCE TO GROUP HOMES; AMENDING SECTION
  4        36-401, IDAHO CODE, TO STRIKE REFERENCE TO GROUP HOMES AND TO EDIT  REFER-
  5        ENCE  TO CHILDREN'S RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES; AMENDING SECTION 39-1202,
  6        IDAHO CODE, TO FURTHER DEFINE TERMS AND TO MAKE  A  TECHNICAL  CORRECTION;
  7        AMENDING  SECTION 39-1205, IDAHO CODE, TO STRIKE REFERENCE TO GROUP HOMES,
  8        TO EDIT REFERENCE TO CHILDREN'S RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES AND TO  DELETE
  9        JUVENILE  DETENTION CENTERS; REPEALING SECTION 39-1208, IDAHO CODE; AMEND-
 10        ING SECTIONS 39-1210 AND 39-1211, IDAHO CODE, TO STRIKE REFERENCE TO GROUP
 11        HOMES, TO EDIT REFERENCE TO CHILDREN'S RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES AND  TO
 12        MAKE  TECHNICAL  CORRECTIONS;  AMENDING  SECTION  39-1213,  IDAHO CODE, TO
 13        STRIKE REFERENCE TO GROUP HOMES, TO EDIT REFERENCE TO CHILDREN'S  RESIDEN-
 14        TIAL  CARE  FACILITIES,  TO  PROVIDE ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY TO THE BOARD FOR
 15        PROVISION OF CONTINUED CARE, AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL  CORRECTIONS;  AMENDING
 16        SECTIONS  39-1214,  39-1216,  39-1217, 39-1220, 39-1221 AND 39-1222, IDAHO
 17        CODE, TO STRIKE  REFERENCE  TO  GROUP  HOMES  AND  TO  EDIT  REFERENCE  TO
 18        CHILDREN'S RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES.
                                                                        
 19    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
 20        SECTION  1.  That  Section 16-1623, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 21    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 22        16-1623.  POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT. The department, working  in
 23    conjunction  with the court and other public and private agencies and persons,
 24    shall have the primary responsibility to implement the purpose of  this  chap-
 25    ter.  To  this  end, the department is empowered and shall have the duty to do
 26    all things reasonably necessary to carry out  the  purpose  of  this  chapter,
 27    including, but not limited to, the following:
 28        (a)  The department shall administer treatment programs for the protection
 29    and  care  of  neglected,  abused  and abandoned children, and in so doing may
 30    place in foster care, shelter care, group homes or  other  diagnostic,  treat-
 31    ment,  or  care centers or facilities, children of whom it has been given cus-
 32    tody. The department is to be governed by the standards found in  chapter  12,
 33    title 39, Idaho Code.
 34        (b)  On December 1, the department shall make an annual statistical report
 35    to the governor covering the preceding fiscal year showing the number and sta-
 36    tus  of  persons  in its custody and including such other data as will provide
 37    sufficient facts for sound planning in the conservation of children and youth.
 38    All officials and employees of the state and of every county  and  city  shall
 39    furnish  the  department upon request, such information within their knowledge
 40    and control as the department deems necessary. Local agencies shall report  in
 41    such uniform format as may be required by the department.
 42        (c)  The  department  shall be required to maintain a central registry for
 43    the reporting of child neglect, abuse and abandonment information.
                                                                        
                                           2
                                                                        
  1        (d)  The department shall make periodic evaluation of all persons  in  its
  2    custody or under its supervision for the purpose of determining whether exist-
  3    ing orders and dispositions in individual cases shall be modified or continued
  4    in  force.  Evaluations  may be made as frequently as the department considers
  5    desirable and shall be made with respect to every   person  at  intervals  not
  6    exceeding  six (6) months. Reports of evaluation made pursuant to this section
  7    shall be filed with the court which vested custody  of  the  person  with  the
  8    department.  Reports of evaluation shall be provided to persons having full or
  9    partial legal or physical custody of a child. Failure  of  the  department  to
 10    evaluate  a  person  or  to reevaluate him within six (6) months of a previous
 11    examination shall not of itself entitle the person to a change in  disposition
 12    but  shall  entitle  him,  his parent, guardian or custodian or his counsel to
 13    petition the court pursuant to section 16-1611, Idaho Code.
 14        (e)  In a consultive capacity, the department shall assist communities  in
 15    the  development  of  constructive programs for the protection, prevention and
 16    care of children and youth.
 17        (f)  The department shall keep written records of investigations,  evalua-
 18    tions,  prognosis  and all orders concerning disposition or treatment of every
 19    person over whom it has legal custody. Department records shall be subject  to
 20    disclosure  according  to  chapter  3,  title  9, Idaho Code, unless otherwise
 21    ordered by the court, the person consents to the disclosure, or disclosure  is
 22    necessary for the delivery of services to the person. Notwithstanding the pro-
 23    visions  restricting  disclosure or the exemptions from disclosure provided in
 24    chapter 3, title 9, Idaho Code, all records pertaining to investigations,  the
 25    rehabilitation  of  youth,  the  protection of children, evaluation, treatment
 26    and/or disposition records pertaining to the statutory responsibilities of the
 27    department shall be disclosed to any duly elected state official carrying  out
 28    his official functions.
 29        (g)  The  department shall establish appropriate administrative procedures
 30    for the processing of complaints  of  child  neglect,  abuse  and  abandonment
 31    received  and  for the implementation of the protection, treatment and care of
 32    children formally or informally placed in the custody of the department  under
 33    this chapter.
 34        (h)  The  department having been granted legal custody of a child, subject
 35    to the judicial review provisions of this subsection, shall have the right  to
 36    determine  where  and  with whom the child shall live, provided that the child
 37    shall not be placed outside the state without the  court's  consent.  Provided
 38    however, that the court shall retain jurisdiction over the child, which juris-
 39    diction  shall  be  entered on any order or petition granting legal custody to
 40    the department, and the court shall have jurisdiction over all matters  relat-
 41    ing  to  the  child. The department shall not place the child in the home from
 42    which the court ordered the child removed without first obtaining the approval
 43    of the court.
 44        (i)  The department shall give to the court any information concerning the
 45    child that the court may at any time require, but in any  event  shall  report
 46    the  progress of the child under its custody at intervals of not to exceed six
 47    (6) months. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that if a child is  placed
 48    in  the  custody of the department and was also placed in out of the home care
 49    for a period not less than fifteen (15) out of the last twenty-two (22) months
 50    from the date the child entered shelter care, the department shall initiate  a
 51    petition  for termination of parental rights. This presumption may be rebutted
 52    by a finding of the court that the filing of a  petition  for  termination  of
 53    parental  rights would not be in the best interests of the child or reasonable
 54    efforts have not been provided to reunite the child with his  family,  or  the
 55    child is placed permanently with a relative.
                                                                        
                                           3
                                                                        
  1        (j)  The  department shall establish appropriate administrative procedures
  2    for the conduct of administrative reviews and hearings as required by  federal
  3    statute for all children committed to the department and placed in out of home
  4    care.
  5        (k)  At  any  time  the  department is considering a placement pursuant to
  6    this act, the department shall make a reasonable effort to place the child  in
  7    the  least  disruptive  environment to the child and in so doing may consider,
  8    without limitation, placement of the child with related persons.
                                                                        
  9        SECTION 2.  That Section 33-1002B, Idaho Code, be, and the same is  hereby
 10    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 11        33-1002B.  PUPIL  TUITION-EQUIVALENCY  ALLOWANCES. 1. Districts which edu-
 12    cate pupils placed by Idaho court order in  licensed  group  homes,  agencies,
 13    institutions  or juvenile detention facilities shall be eligible for an allow-
 14    ance equivalent to the previous year's certified local annual tuition rate per
 15    pupil. This district allowance shall be in addition to  support  unit  funding
 16    and  included  in district apportionment payments, subject to approval of dis-
 17    trict applications by the state superintendent of public instruction.
 18        2.  Districts which educate school age special education students who, due
 19    to the nature and severity of their disabilities are residing in licensed pub-
 20    lic or private residential facilities or homes,  and  whose  parents  are  not
 21    patrons  of the district, shall be eligible for an allowance equivalent to the
 22    previous year's certified local annual tuition rate per child plus the  excess
 23    cost  rate  that  is annually determined by the state superintendent of public
 24    instruction. This district allowance shall be in addition to exceptional  edu-
 25    cation  support  unit funding and included in district apportionment payments,
 26    subject to approval of district applications by the  state  superintendent  of
 27    public instruction.
                                                                        
 28        SECTION  3.  That  Section 33-1404, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 29    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 30        33-1404.  DISTRICTS TO RECEIVE PUPILS. Every school district shall receive
 31    and admit pupils transferred thereto, where payment of their tuition is to  be
 32    paid  by  the  home district, or waived by the receiving district, except when
 33    any such transfer would work  a  hardship  on  the  receiving  district.  Each
 34    receiving  school  district  shall  be  governed by written policy guidelines,
 35    adopted by the board of trustees, which define hardship impact upon  the  dis-
 36    trict  or upon an individual school within the district. The policy shall pro-
 37    vide specific standards for  acceptance  and  rejection  of  applications  for
 38    accepting  out  of  district  pupils.  Standards may include the capacity of a
 39    program, class, grade level or school building. Standards may not include pre-
 40    vious  academic  achievement,  athletic  or  other  extracurricular   ability,
 41    handicapping conditions, or proficiency in the English language.
 42        Nonresident  pupils  who are placed by court order under provisions of the
 43    Idaho youth rehabilitation or child protective acts  and  reside  in  licensed
 44    group  homes,  agencies and institutions shall be received and admitted by the
 45    school district in which the facility is located without payment of tuition.
 46        Homeless children and youth as defined by the Stewart B. McKinney homeless
 47    assistance act (P.L. 100-77), may attend any school district or school  within
 48    a  district without payment of tuition when it is determined to be in the best
 49    interest of that child.
                                                                        
 50        SECTION 4.  That Section 36-401, Idaho Code, be, and the  same  is  hereby
                                                                        
                                           4
                                                                        
  1    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
  2        36-401.  HUNTING,  TRAPPING, FISHING -- LICENSE REQUIREMENT -- EXCEPTIONS.
  3    No person shall hunt, trap, or fish for or take any wild animal, bird or  fish
  4    of  this  state,  without  first having procured a license as hereinafter pro-
  5    vided. Provided that no license shall be required:
  6        (a)  1.  For children under the age of fourteen (14) years who  are  resi-
  7        dents of this state to fish during the open season therefor.
  8        2.  For  nonresident children under the age of fourteen (14) years to fish
  9        during the open season therefor  provided  they  are  accompanied  by  the
 10        holder  of  a  valid  fishing  license, and provided further that any fish
 11        caught by such nonresident children shall be included in the bag and  pos-
 12        session limit of such license holder.
 13        3.  For resident children under the age of twelve (12) years to hunt, take
 14        or  kill predatory, unprotected birds and animals by means other than with
 15        firearms.
 16        4.  For resident children under the age of fourteen  (14)  years  to  trap
 17        muskrats from irrigation ditches or property on which they live during the
 18        open season.
 19        5.  For children under the age of eighteen (18) years who are residents of
 20        a  licensed  foster home, a foster group home, or a child welfare institu-
 21        tion children's residential care facility to fish during the  open  season
 22        therefor,  provided  they  are accompanied and supervised by the director,
 23        officer, or other employee of the facility where the child resides.
 24        (b)  For any person to fish on a "free fishing day" as may  be  designated
 25    by the commission.
 26        (c)  Institutional  Inmates.  For  any inmate of the state hospital north,
 27    state hospital south, Idaho state school  and  hospital,  and  state  veterans
 28    homes  to fish during open seasons, provided said inmate has a permit therefor
 29    from the director. The director is authorized to issue such permits  upon  the
 30    request  of  the  head  of  the  respective institution having custody of said
 31    inmate upon a showing that the institution recommends  the  issuance  of  such
 32    permit  and  will  assume full responsibility for and control over said inmate
 33    while using said permit.
 34        (d)  State Juvenile Corrections Center Students. For students of the state
 35    juvenile corrections center, under the supervision of an officer of  the  cen-
 36    ter, to fish during the open season.
 37        (e)  Boy  Scouts.  For  boy scouts who are official participants in atten-
 38    dance at national or international encampments at Farragut State Park to  take
 39    fish  during  the  encampment  period from Lake Pend Oreille in such areas and
 40    such numbers as may be designated by the commission.
 41        (f)  Participants in Fish and Game Sponsored Functions.  For  persons  who
 42    are official participants in attendance at official department sponsored func-
 43    tions  including clinics, courses or other educational events, while under the
 44    supervision of a department approved instructor for the function, to fish dur-
 45    ing any open season, provided that the instructor has been  issued  an  educa-
 46    tional fishing permit by the director.
 47        (g)  Nothing  contained  herein shall be construed to prohibit citizens of
 48    the United States who are residents of the state of Idaho from  carrying  arms
 49    for the protection of life and property.
                                                                        
 50        SECTION  5.  That  Section 39-1202, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 51    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 52        39-1202.  DEFINITIONS. For the purposes of this chapter:
                                                                        
                                           5
                                                                        
  1        (1)  "Board" means the Idaho board of health and welfare.
  2        (2)  "Child care" means that care, control, supervision or maintenance  of
  3    children  for twenty-four (24) hours a day which is provided as an alternative
  4    to parental care.
  5        (3)  "Child" means an individual less than eighteen (18) years of age  who
  6    is not enrolled in an institution of higher education.
  7        (4)  "Children's  agency"  means  a person who operates a business for the
  8    placement of children in foster homes or group homes or for adoption in a per-
  9    manent home and who does not provide child care  as  part  of  that  business.
 10    Children's  agency does not include a licensed attorney or physician assisting
 11    or providing natural and adoptive parents with legal services or medical  ser-
 12    vices necessary to initiate and complete adoptive placements.
 13        (5)  "Children's  camp"  means  a program of child care at a location away
 14    from the child's home which is primarily recreational and includes  the  over-
 15    night  accommodation  of  the  child and is not intended to provide treatment,
 16    therapy or rehabilitation for the child.
 17        (6)  "Children's institution" means a person who  operates  a  residential
 18    facility for children not related to that person if that person is an individ-
 19    ual, for the purpose of providing child care. Children's institutions include,
 20    but  are  not limited to, foster homes, group homes, maternity homes, juvenile
 21    detention centers and other residential facilities referenced in the  juvenile
 22    justice reform act, or any facilities providing treatment, therapy or rehabil-
 23    itation  for  children. Children's institutions do not include: (a) facilities
 24    which provide only day care as defined in chapter 11, title  39,  Idaho  Code;
 25    (b)  facilities  and agencies including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities,
 26    intermediate care facilities, and intermediate care facilities  for  the  men-
 27    tally  retarded licensed pursuant to chapter 13, title 39, Idaho Code; (c) day
 28    schools; (d) individuals acting in an advisory capacity, counseling a child in
 29    a religious context, and providing no child care associated with  the  advice;
 30    (e)  the  occasional or irregular care of a neighbor's, relative's or friend's
 31    child or children by a person not ordinarily engaged in child care.
 32        (7)  "Children's treatment residential care facility" means  a  children's
 33    institution, excluding:
 34        (a)  Foster homes;
 35        (b)  Group homes;
 36        (c)  Juvenile detention centers;
 37        (d)  Residential schools;
 38        (ec)  Children's camps.
 39        No  facility expressly excluded from the definition of a children's insti-
 40    tution is included within the definition of a children's treatment residential
 41    care facility.
 42        (8)  "Continued care" means the ongoing placement of an  individual  in  a
 43    foster  home,  children's  residential  care  facility, or transitional living
 44    placement who reaches the age of eighteen (18) years but is less than  twenty-
 45    one (21) years of age.
 46        (9)  "Day  school"  means a public, private, parochial or secular facility
 47    offering an educational program in which the children leave the facility  each
 48    day at the conclusion of the academic, vocational or school supervised activi-
 49    ties.
 50        (910)  "Department" means the state department of health and welfare.
 51        (101)  "Director"  means the director of the department of health and wel-
 52    fare.
 53        (112)  "Foster care" means child care by  a  person  not  related  to  the
 54    child, in lieu of parental care, in a foster home.
 55        (123)  "Foster  home" means a home which accepts, for any period  of time,
                                                                        
                                           6
                                                                        
  1    with or without compensation, one (1) or more children who are not related  to
  2    the  foster  parent  as  members of the household for the purpose of providing
  3    substitute parental care.
  4        (134)  "Group care" means foster care of a number  of  children  for  whom
  5    child care in a family setting is not available or appropriate, in a dormitory
  6    or  cottage type setting, characterized by activities and discipline of a more
  7    regimented and less formal nature than found in a family setting.
  8        (14)  "Group home" means a residential facility providing group care.
  9        (15)  "Juvenile detention" means the temporary child care of juveniles who
 10    require secure custody pursuant to the juvenile justice reform act, as defined
 11    in section 16-1802(i), Idaho Code, for their own or the community's protection
 12    is as defined in section 20-502(6), Idaho Code, of  the  juvenile  corrections
 13    act.
 14        (16)  "Juvenile  detention center" means a physically restrictive facility
 15    for juveniles pending court adjudication or subsequent to court  adjudication,
 16    as  defined  in section 16-1802(j) established pursuant to sections 20-517 and
 17    20-518, Idaho Code.
 18        (17)  "Person" includes any individual, group of individuals, association,
 19    partnership, limited liability company or corporation.
 20        (18)  "Placement" means finding a suitable licensed foster home  or  suit-
 21    able  adoptive home for a child and completing the arrangements for a child to
 22    be accepted into and adjusted to such home.
 23        (19)  "Representative" means an employee of the state department of health
 24    and welfare.
 25        (20)  "Residential facility" means any facility where child care  is  pro-
 26    vided, as defined in this section, and which provides day and night accommoda-
 27    tion.
 28        (21)  "Residential  school"  means  a  residential  facility  for children
 29    which:
 30        (a)  Provides a planned, scheduled, regular, academic or vocational school
 31        program for students in the elementary,  middle  or  secondary  grades  as
 32        defined in section 33-1001, Idaho Code; and
 33        (b)  Provides  services substantially comparable to those provided in non-
 34        residential nonresidential public schools where the primary purpose is the
 35        education and academic pursuits of the students; and
 36        (c)  Does not seek, receive or enroll students for treatment of such  spe-
 37        cial  needs  as  substance  abuse,  mental illness, emotional disturbance,
 38        developmental disability or mental retardation; and
 39        (d)  Is not:
 40             (i)   A college or university; or
 41             (ii)  A children's camp as defined in this section; or
 42             (iii) A public or private day school in which the children leave  the
 43             facility  each  day at the conclusion of the academic, vocational and
 44             school supervised activities.
 45        (22) "Transitional living" means living arrangements  and  aftercare  ser-
 46    vices  for  children, or as continued care, to gain experience living on their
 47    own in a supportive and supervised environment prior to emancipation.
                                                                        
 48        SECTION 6.  That Section 39-1205, Idaho Code, be, and the same  is  hereby
 49    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 50        39-1205.  EVALUATION  OF  DISCLOSURE  REPORTS. The department shall review
 51    all initial and annual update disclosure reports  and  shall  categorize  each
 52    children's  institution,  based  on the type of care provided, into one (1) of
 53    the following categories:
                                                                        
                                           7
                                                                        
  1        (1)  Foster homes;
  2        (2)  Group homes;
  3        (3)  Juvenile detention centers;
  4        (4)  Residential schools;
  5        (53)  Children's camps; or
  6        (64)  Each children's institution not otherwise categorized in subsections
  7        (1) through (53) of this section, except any day school, shall  be  desig-
  8        nated as a "children's treatment residential care facility."
                                                                        
  9        SECTION  7.  That  Section 39-1208, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 10    repealed.
                                                                        
 11        SECTION 8.  That Section 39-1210, Idaho Code, be, and the same  is  hereby
 12    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 13        39-1210.  STANDARDS  FOR CHILDREN'S TREATMENT RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES.
 14    The board of health and welfare shall have the power and it shall be its  duty
 15    to  promulgate  appropriate  rules  and regulations necessary to implement and
 16    enforce the following standards for licensing a children's treatment  residen-
 17    tial care facility:
 18        (1)  Assure  the  organizational  stability  of  the  facility,  which may
 19    require incorporation under the laws of Idaho.
 20        (2)  Require from the policy-making authority of the facility the  promul-
 21    gation of a statement setting forth the facility's purposes and objectives and
 22    describing  the character and extent of the services which it offers and main-
 23    tains, and the geographical area to be served.
 24        (3)  Require a statement of solvency sufficient to maintain facilities and
 25    personnel necessary to achieve its purposes and objectives and to maintain its
 26    services.
 27        (4)  Assure such record-keeping recordkeeping  and  reporting  as  may  be
 28    deemed  necessary to the facility's services and to the department's licensing
 29    responsibility.
 30        (5)  Assure the safety and physical care of children for whom the facility
 31    assumes or accepts responsibility.
 32        (6)  Establish the legal status of each child accepted for  care  and  the
 33    legal authority and responsibility of the facility for the child.
 34        (7)  Require  a  statement of intake policy which shall set forth criteria
 35    for accepting children for care or service in relation to the facility's  pur-
 36    poses and facilities.
 37        (8)  Provide  through  observation  and  collateral inquiry for studies of
 38    homes into which children may be placed sufficient to enable a judgment deter-
 39    mining the adequacy of the homes in relation to the  needs  of  the  children;
 40    and.
 41        (9)  In  the  case  of  an  institution  specializing in maternity care to
 42    unmarried mothers:
 43        (a)  Assure social services on behalf of both the mother and infant; and
 44        (b)  Assure protection of the legal  rights  and  rights  to  confidential
 45        treatment  of  minor  unmarried  mothers and their children which shall be
 46        subject to disclosure according to chapter 3, title 9, Idaho Code.
 47        (10)  The department shall obtain a criminal history check on the  owners,
 48    operators  and  employees of all children's treatment residential care facili-
 49    ties. The criminal history check shall include the following:
 50        (a)  Statewide criminal identification bureau;
 51        (b)  Federal bureau of investigation (FBI) criminal history;
 52        (c)  National crime information center; and
                                                                        
                                           8
                                                                        
  1        (d)  Statewide child abuse register.
                                                                        
  2        SECTION 9.  That Section 39-1211, Idaho Code, be, and the same  is  hereby
  3    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
  4        39-1211.  STANDARDS  FOR  FOSTER HOMES AND GROUP HOMES -- BOARD AUTHORIZED
  5    TO IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE. The board of  health  and  welfare  shall  have  the
  6    power,  and  it  shall be its duty to promulgate appropriate rules and regula-
  7    tions necessary to implement and enforce the following standards for licensing
  8    private foster homes and group homes pursuant to  this  chapter.  The  board's
  9    rules  and  regulations for group homes may be separate from rules and regula-
 10    tions for foster homes. Such rules and regulations shall:
 11        (1)  Require evidence of income and resources sufficient to  maintain  the
 12    home and the services offered.
 13        (2)  Require  such  record-keeping  recordkeeping  and reporting regarding
 14    children's status and progress as may be deemed necessary.
 15        (3)  Assure the safety and adequate physical care of children under care.
 16        (4)  Require that foster parents be physically and emotionally  suited  to
 17    care  for  unrelated  children and to deal with problems presented by children
 18    away from their own homes and own parents and shall require a  criminal  back-
 19    ground check.
 20        Provided, however, nothing in this chapter shall be construed to cover the
 21    occasional  or irregular care of a neighbor's, relative's or friend's child or
 22    children by a person not ordinarily engaged in child care.
                                                                        
 23        SECTION 10.  That Section 39-1213, Idaho Code, be, and the same is  hereby
 24    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 25        39-1213.  LICENSING  AUTHORITY.  (a)  The  board  of health and welfare is
 26    hereby authorized and directed to establish procedures  for  licensing  foster
 27    homes,  group  homes, children's agencies and children's treatment residential
 28    care facilities which are maintained  and  operated  in  conformity  with  the
 29    rules,  regulations  and  standards  authorized  herein. Such procedures shall
 30    include the manner and form for making application for license,  investigation
 31    upon application and notice of decision.
 32        (b)  It  is  recognized that children's agencies may have their own proce-
 33    dure for approval of foster homes affiliated with their  program.  Any  foster
 34    home  which  has been approved by a licensed children's agency shall be exempt
 35    from the licensing provisions of this chapter, provided that the standards for
 36    approval by such agency are no less restrictive than  rules,  regulations  and
 37    standards established by the board of health and welfare, and provided further
 38    that  such  children's  agency  is  maintained and operated in conformity with
 39    rules, regulations and standards of the board of health and welfare. The board
 40    of health and welfare may promulgate rules and regulations necessary to imple-
 41    ment the provisions of this section.
 42        (c)  The board of health and welfare is  hereby  authorized  to  establish
 43    rules allowing for continued care for appropriate individuals eighteen (18) to
 44    twenty-one  (21) years of age who have been receiving services by, through, or
 45    with the authorization of the department of health and welfare or the  depart-
 46    ment of juvenile corrections prior to their eighteenth  birthday.
                                                                        
 47        SECTION  11.  That Section 39-1214, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 48    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 49        39-1214.  ELIGIBILITY FOR LICENSE. Any foster home, group home, children's
                                                                        
                                           9
                                                                        
  1    agency or children's treatment residential care facility which applies  for  a
  2    license  in  the manner and form prescribed by the board of health and welfare
  3    and is found upon investigation by the department to be established in confor-
  4    mity with the rules, regulations and standards established by  the  department
  5    under the authority conferred herein shall be licensed for a period of one (1)
  6    year.
                                                                        
  7        SECTION  12.  That Section 39-1216, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
  8    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
  9        39-1216.  PROVISIONAL  LICENSE.  Upon  initial  investigation,  should  an
 10    applicant for a license be unable to meet a  standard  because  of  conditions
 11    that are unlikely to endure beyond six (6) months from the date of such inves-
 12    tigation,  the department may, if in its judgment the health and safety of any
 13    child is not thereby endangered, issue a provisional license for a period  not
 14    to  exceed  six  (6) months. No more than one (1) provisional license shall be
 15    issued to the same foster home, group home, children's  agency  or  children's
 16    treatment residential care facility in any twelve (12) month period.
                                                                        
 17        SECTION  13.  That Section 39-1217, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 18    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 19        39-1217.  VISITATION.  For  the  purpose  of  determining  whether   every
 20    licensed  foster  home,  licensed  group  home, licensed children's agency and
 21    licensed children's treatment residential care  facility   consistently  main-
 22    tains  conformity with the standards established under the authority conferred
 23    herein, the department, through an authorized representative, shall visit each
 24    such home and facility as often as it deems necessary or desirable, but in any
 25    event at intervals not to exceed twelve (12) months.
                                                                        
 26        SECTION 14.  That Section 39-1220, Idaho Code, be, and the same is  hereby
 27    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 28        39-1220.  OPERATING WITHOUT LICENSE MISDEMEANOR. Any person or persons who
 29    operate  a  foster home, group home, children's agency or children's treatment
 30    residential care facility,  within  this  state,  without  first  obtaining  a
 31    license as provided in this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. However,
 32    in  the  event  of an initial citation for violation of the provisions of this
 33    section, if a person makes the application required within thirty  (30)  days,
 34    the  complaint shall be dismissed. The penalty for violation of the provisions
 35    of this section shall be three hundred dollars ($300) for each day of  a  con-
 36    tinuing  violation, which penalty shall accrue from thirty (30) days following
 37    the initial notice of violation in the event of a finding of violation.
                                                                        
 38        SECTION 15.  That Section 39-1221, Idaho Code, be, and the same is  hereby
 39    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 40        39-1221.  REMOVAL  OF CHILDREN. Any child or children receiving child care
 41    in a group home or children's treatment residential care facility found to  be
 42    operating  without a license may be removed from such home, agency or institu-
 43    tion upon order of the magistrate court of the county in which  the  child  is
 44    receiving  care and returned to the child's own home, or placed in the custody
 45    of the department if the child's custodial parent is not available. The prose-
 46    cuting attorneys of the several counties shall represent the department at all
 47    stages of the proceedings before the magistrate court.  The  magistrate  court
                                                                        
                                           10
                                                                        
  1    shall retain jurisdiction relative to child custody pursuant to the provisions
  2    of  this  section.  In  the  event that the prosecuting attorney in the county
  3    where the alleged violation occurred fails or refuses to act within sixty (60)
  4    days of notification of the violation, the attorney general is  authorized  to
  5    prosecute violations under this chapter.
                                                                        
  6        SECTION  16.  That Section 39-1222, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
  7    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
  8        39-1222.  ACTION AGAINST UNLICENSED FOSTER HOME,  GROUP  HOME,  CHILDREN'S
  9    AGENCY  OR CHILDREN'S TREATMENT RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITY. Notwithstanding the
 10    existence or pursuit of any other remedy, the department shall,  upon  showing
 11    good  cause  to the prosecuting attorney who shall represent the department in
 12    the proceeding, maintain an action in the name of the state for injunction  or
 13    other  process  against a person as defined herein who shall hereafter operate
 14    or maintain any foster home,  group  home,  children's  agency  or  children's
 15    treatment  residential  care  facility  without first having secured a license
 16    pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. Upon a finding that the safety  of
 17    children  at a foster home, group home, children's agency or children's treat-
 18    ment residential care facility is endangered, the department has the authority
 19    to immediately revoke a license.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact


	REPRINT	REPRINT	REPRINT	REPRINT	REPRINT	REPRINT

                    STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

                          RS 10545C1

This legislation is designed to make changes to statutes to be 
consistent with the recommendations of the Children’s Treatment 
Rules Committee and the related work groups.  It was recognized 
that youth committed either to the Department of Health and 
Welfare or the Department of Juvenile Corrections may best 
benefit from remaining in out of home settings past their 
eighteenth birthdays to complete high school or other education 
or vocational activities.  This proposal would allow these youth 
to remain in their current placements if determined to be in their
 best interests and safe for other minors in that setting.  
"Continued care" relates to this concept of assisting committed 
youth in moving to successful independence and is proposed to be 
defined in rule approved by the Board of Health and Welfare.  The 
terminology of group homes is no longer appropriate and is deleted 
as these facilities are recommended to be included in the definition
 of children’s residential facilities.  The responsibility of the 
Department of Health and Welfare for licensure of juvenile detention 
facilities is repealed as this authority and responsibility was 
transferred to the Department of Juvenile Corrections in the Juvenile
Corrections Act of 1995.

FISCAL IMPACT

No additional fiscal impact is anticipated.  Most individuals who 
turn 18 while in the custody of the department of Health and Welfare 
leave foster care or residential treatment.  An average of 13 youth 
per month choose to enter into voluntary placement agreements in order
 to finish school, finish treatment, gain additional skills, or 
continue to live in a foster home with younger siblings.  Continued 
care allows a more normal transition from the family unit as opposed 
to leaving home on the 18th birthday. This legislation does not 
create a new service for a new population.  It is not anticipated 
that there would be an increase in the number of individuals who 
turn 18 while in treatment and who voluntarily continue services.

The Department of Juvenile Corrections has legal authority of youth
up to age 21.  Approximately 80 of the youth under commitment to 
the Department of Juvenile Corrections are over 18.  These youth 
currently reside in state facilities or adult jails.  This legislation
would allow the Department of Juvenile Corrections to move some of 
these youth to appropriate residential treatment facilities to assist
in the youth’s treatment and transition to community living.  This 
legislation might increase the number of juveniles remaining in 
treatment after age 18.  However, the cost of placement in a 
residential transition treatment facility is less than the cost of 
placement in state facilities. Therefore, it is not anticipated there
would be a fiscal impact.


Contact
Name:  	Barbara Hancock
Phone:  	334-0646

Statement of Purpose/Fiscal Note	     H60aa