Amends TCA Title 4; Title 36 and Title 37.

Until January 1, 2030, this bill requires the department of children's services ("department") to create a private foster care pilot program. The purpose of the program is to allow private entities to provide foster care services that are analogous or functionally equivalent to the services provided by the department. A licensed child care or child placing agency ("private entity") participating in the pilot program has full decision-making authority over the children placed in their custody without interference by the department. The department must determine a cost per child formula and compensate the private entities according to the formula within existing resources of the department.<br /> <br /> ELIGIBITY AND DUTIES<br /> <br /> This bill authorizes the pilot program to serve up to 450 children who are (i) younger than 18, (ii) not in need of sub-acute psychiatric care, and (iii) not eligible for certain federal funds under Title IV-E. The department must create a process for selecting the children that participate in the pilot program. Additionally, a court may place a child into the pilot program.<br /> <br /> This bill authorizes a private entity to apply to the department to participate in the pilot program if the private entity (i) has a facility for the immediate housing of foster children, (ii) utilizes analogous or functionally equivalent qualifications as the department for choosing foster parents, and (iii) possesses any other qualifications deemed necessary by the department. The department must review and make a determination on all new applications for the pilot program within 30 days of receipt of an application. <br /> <br /> This bill requires a private entity accepted into the pilot program to (i) provide services to the children placed in the entity's custody that are analogous or functionally equivalent to the services provided by the department and (ii) maintain a child-to-case-manager ratio as follows:<br /> <br /> (1) If there are 1-39 children placed in the entity's custody, then there must be no more than 15 children for every one case manager; <br /> <br /> (2) If there are 40-99 children placed in the entity's custody, then there must be no more than 12 children for every one case manager; and<br /> <br /> (3) If there are more than 99 children placed in the entity's custody, then there must be no more than 10 children for every one case manager. <br /> <br /> Additionally, this bill requires each counselor and case manager employed by the private entity to obtain a minimum of 10 hours of attachment and bonding training provided by the department.<br /> <br /> REPORTING<br /> <br /> This bill requires each private entity to provide a report to the state foster care and adoption review board by the 15th day of each month containing (i) the number of foster children placed in the private entity's custody during the previous month; (ii) the date each child was placed in the private entity's custody during the previous month and the date of the child's foster care placement by the private entity; and (iii) the stability and status of all children currently in the private entity's custody pursuant to the pilot program.<br /> <br /> AUDIT<br /> <br /> This bill requires the division of state audit in the office of the comptroller of the treasury to audit the pilot program.<br /> <br /> RULEMAKING<br /> <br /> This bill requires the department to promulgate rules to effectuate this bill.<br />