Amends TCA Title 37 and Title 71.

This bill requires the department of children's services to establish a three-year pilot program to compensate a relative caregiver at half the full foster care rate for the care of the child even if: (1) The child has not been placed in state custody; (2) The child is 16 years of age or younger and the relative caregiver is at least 21 years of age; (3) The child has been placed in the custody of the relative caregiver by final order of a court; (4) At least six months have passed since the date of the final court order; (5) The child is at risk of entering state custody; (6) The relative caregiver's total adjusted household income does not exceed more than twice the current federal poverty guidelines; (7) The relative caregiver agrees to seek the establishment and enforcement of child support, including naming the father of a child to establish paternity, unless there is good cause not to cooperate; and (8) The relative caregiver agrees to participate in any programs offered by the department to reduce the risk of the child entering state custody. This bill authorizes the department to establish additional requirements, which may include that the relative submit to a background check conducted by the TBI and FBI and that the relative provide personal and professional references. The department is prohibited from requiring that the child have been or be in the custody of the department. Compensation will be subject to the initial and continuing eligibility of the relative and the child, pursuant to this bill and rules promulgated by the department. No later than February 1 following the conclusion of each calendar year of the pilot program, the department must publish a report on the payments, including: (1) The amount of payments made; (2) The rates at which children in this pilot program enter state custody as compared to the rates of other at-risk children; (3) The number of children that remained out of state custody because of the pilot program; and (4) The amount of money saved as a result of children remaining out of state custody because of the pilot program. This bill authorizes the commission of children's services to adopt rules and regulations necessary to carry out its purpose. For all purposes other than for the promulgation of rules, this bill will take effect January 1, 2022, and will end January 1, 2025.