HCS HB 259 -- DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN FOSTER CARE LICENSURE
INFORMATION

SPONSOR:  Largent (Cox)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Children and Families by a vote of 11 to 0.

This substitute changes the laws regarding the disclosure of
certain foster care licensure information.  A public governmental
body can close meetings, records, and votes if they relate to
personal information obtained in the process of licensing a
foster home.  The Division of Family Services within the
Department of Social Services must make a report available for
each foster home that is licensed and for each foster home
renewing an existing license which includes:

(1)  The names of all persons 18 years of age or older licensed
to operate the foster home;

(2)  A description of the background investigation conducted on
all persons operating or maintaining the foster home including
certain specified documentation;

(3)  A description of all concerns raised during the background
investigation and foster home licensure process and how those
concerns were resolved;

(4)  A description of a person's ability to perform the minimum
competency requirements of a foster parent; and

(5)  A list of all references provided by each person, stating
the reference's name, how and when the reference was contacted,
and a brief description of the reference's opinion of the person.

The report must not contain the address of any residence or any
personal information not otherwise required which could be used
by another to threaten, harm, harass, or embarrass any person.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2012, FY 2013, and
FY 2014.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill deals with the Open
Meetings and Records Law, commonly known as the Sunshine Law, and
the people involved in the foster care program.  In the foster
care application process, the Sunshine Law does not limit
specifically the information that must be provided to become
licensed.  There is no reason an applicant should be required to
provide certain personal information, but the agency needs to
investigate applicants thoroughly.  Some of the information
should be confidential.  The character trait portion of the
application may not be clear enough for a case worker to know
what information is needed.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Cox; and Kelly
Schultz.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that the public has the
right to know about the qualifications of a foster parent.  The
language of the bill is confusing in some areas particularly
whether current foster homes are covered under the bill.  Secrecy
does not promote accountability.

Testifying against the bill was Missouri Press Association.

Missouri House of Representatives
96th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated August 9, 2011 at 1:17 pm