Department of Human Services - Study on Private Treatment Foster Care Homes
Summary
SB 833 requires the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) to study what kinds of state support would be appropriate and beneficial for private providers of treatment foster care homes, and to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by December 1, 2025. Treatment foster care homes are out-of-home placements that provide intensive casework and treatment in a family setting for children with special physical, emotional, or behavioral needs.
The bill also creates a new temporary funding framework for child care stipends for private treatment foster care homes. Beginning in fiscal year 2026, the Secretary of Human Services must review and reallocate part of DHS’s annual budget to help cover child care expenses for these private homes in a manner similar to public treatment foster care homes. Beginning in fiscal year 2027, DHS must include in its annual budget request at least the amount it reallocated for the current year, and the Secretary must adopt procedures for applications and awards.
Impact
SB 833 amends the Family Law Article by adding a new section that directs DHS to provide and budget for child care stipends to private treatment foster care homes, subject to specified conditions. It also requires DHS to establish application procedures and award criteria, including standards tied to equity and cultural competency and a prohibition on discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. The act is temporary, taking effect June 1, 2025 and expiring May 31, 2026 unless reenacted, while the budget-related requirements begin in fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad bipartisan support and little visible opposition. It passed the Senate 47-0 and the House 136-0, indicating unanimous approval in both chambers. The lack of recorded committee transcript discussion suggests the measure was not especially controversial and was treated as a targeted support and study bill for foster care providers.
Contention
The main policy issue is how DHS should allocate limited funds: the bill requires the Secretary to determine whether and how much to reallocate based on the needs of local departments working with private treatment foster care homes and the families served. Another point of attention is the bill’s requirement that private providers meet public-home standards for equity and cultural competency and comply with broad nondiscrimination rules, which sets conditions on eligibility for stipends. No formal opposition is reflected in the voting record, but these funding and compliance requirements are the most likely areas of implementation concern.