OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS
Legislative Office Building, Room 5200
Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 240-0200
http://www.cga.ct.gov/ofa
sHB-6576
AN ACT STRENGTHENING SUPPORT FOR GRANDPARENTS AND
OTHER NONPARENT RELATIVES RAISING CHILDREN.
Primary Analyst: LD 3/14/23
Contributing Analyst(s): RDP, DD, ES
Reviewer: ES
OFA Fiscal Note
State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 24 $ FY 25 $
Social Services, Dept. GF - Cost At least
$16.7
million
At least
$16.7
million
Note: GF=General Fund
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill will result in a cost of at least $16.7 million in FY 24 and FY
25 to the Department of Social Services' (DSS) Temporary Family
Assistance Program (TFA).
This bill increases the payment standard for families whose head of
household is: (1) a nonparent caretaker relative and (2) the legal
guardian of a child, to 100% of a foster care rate. The bill does not specify
which category of foster care reimbursement rate the TFA payment
standard will be indexed to. Assuming the average monthly foster care
rate of $819, the bill will result in an increased annual cost to DSS of at
least $16.7 million. Current average monthly TFA rates for family units
range from $489 for a family with one child to an average of $1,005 for a
family with between three and five children. The cost to the state will be
more for children with higher needs and associated services. For
context, the average monthly foster care rate for a child with medically
complex needs is approximately $1,578. 2023HB-06576-R000072-FN.DOCX Page 2 of 2
The actual cost will depend on: (1) the number of individuals
impacted and (2) the foster care rate used as the basis for the TFA
payment.
The Out Years
The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would
continue into the future subject to: (1) the number of individuals
impacted and (2) the foster care rate used as the basis for the TFA
payment.
Sources: Department of Children and Families Foster Care Subsidies
Department of Social Services Caseload Information