HB26-1374 revises Colorado’s kinship care funding framework, with a particular focus on the distinction between certified kinship foster care homes and non-certified kinship care homes. The bill eliminates state financial assistance and county reimbursement for non-certified kinship care homes, removes the exemption that previously kept kinship care rates out of the state fiscal year close-out process, and makes reimbursement for kinship foster care subject to available appropriations. It also authorizes the General Assembly to use the Colorado long-term works reserve for funding in fiscal years 2024-25 and 2025-26.
The bill changes the state’s reporting and notice requirements as well. Instead of requiring annual reporting on non-certified kinship care homes, the Department of Human Services must now report on certified kinship care homes. Counties must provide a standardized notice to currently paid non-certified kinship care providers by June 15, 2026, explaining when assistance ends and describing options to seek certification, including provisional certification if eligible. The bill also clarifies that counties are not required to provide financial assistance and supports for non-certified kinship care except where federal law or specified state child welfare provisions require it.
Impact
The bill amends Colorado statutes governing kinship foster care certification, reimbursement, permanency planning, and relative placement notices, primarily in sections 26-6-904.5, 19-3-702, and 19-3-403. It narrows state and county obligations toward non-certified kinship care homes, shifts financial support toward certified homes, and updates court and county notice language to emphasize certification, provisional certification, and available supports. The act takes effect July 1, 2026, and will affect county human and social services departments, kinship caregivers, and children placed with relatives or kin in the child welfare system.
Sentiment
The overall sentiment appears supportive of kinship care as a placement option, but with a policy preference for certification and tighter limits on ongoing support for non-certified homes. The bill passed through the appropriations process and was ultimately signed by the Governor, suggesting sufficient legislative and executive backing. The available record does not include committee testimony or recorded votes, so the public debate cannot be measured directly from the provided materials.
Contention
The main point of contention is the reduction and eventual elimination of financial assistance for non-certified kinship care homes, which may concern counties and caregivers who rely on those payments. Supporters of the bill appear to favor directing resources toward certified kinship foster homes and encouraging certification, while opponents may argue that non-certified relatives still provide essential placements and should continue receiving support. Another potential issue is the bill’s instruction that permanency planning should not be delayed to preserve financial support for either certified or non-certified kinship homes, which could be viewed as prioritizing permanency over placement stability or caregiver funding.