Rating: +1

Bill Summary:

House Bill 245 strengthens Idaho’s foster care system by expanding eligibility for extended foster care from age 21 to age 23 and revising statutes to promote flexibility, stability, and local accountability in child welfare placements. The bill amends multiple sections across Idaho Code (Titles 16 and 39) to streamline licensing, clarify definitions, and eliminate redundant or overreaching administrative rules from IDAPA.

Key changes include:

• Extends foster care eligibility from age 21 to age 23, allowing young adults more time to access housing, education, and life transition support through voluntary agreements with the Department of Health and Welfare.
• Updates licensing procedures for relative foster care, allowing the Department to grant waivers or variances when the child’s safety is not at risk, reducing regulatory burdens on kinship placements.
• Revises the definition of “continued care” and “relative” to be more inclusive and flexible.
• Reaffirms the state’s authority to license and regulate children’s institutions while allowing foster homes affiliated with licensed agencies to remain exempt if they meet minimum standards.
• Requires IDAPA 16.06.01 (Child and Family Services rules) to be partially repealed, returning policy control to the Legislature.

Reason for Rating:

HB 245 earns a +1 rating for aligning with Idaho Republican Party principles of family preservation, limited bureaucracy, and local control. By extending foster care in a voluntary, non-entitlement model and reducing unnecessary licensing red tape—especially for relatives—it strengthens family-centered solutions without expanding state power. The bill also reinforces legislative oversight by removing agency rulemaking that previously bypassed the lawmaking process.