HB737--THEPROTECTIONOFCHILDREN
SPONSOR: Schmidt
MONEYSHELDBYCHILDREN'SDIVISIONFORACHILD(Section210.560)
Thisbillspecifiesthatinthecaseofbenefitsadministeredby
theRailroadRetirementBoard,theSocialSecurityAdministration,
ortheVeteransAdministration, theChildren'sDivisionisrequired
todeterminewhetherachildincustodyoftheDivisionis
receivingorotherwiseeligibletoreceivesuchbenefitswithin60
daysafterplacementintocustody.
TheDivisionistoapplyforbenefitsonbehalfofthechild,if
thechildisdeemedtobeeligible,andifbenefitsarealready
beingreceivedbeforeplacementintotheDivision'scustodyorthe
Divisionappliesforbenefitsonbehalfofthechild,theDivision
isresponsibleforidentifyingarepresentative payeeandmust
applytobecomesuchifnoothersuitablecandidateisavailable.
AnymoneysreceivedbytheDivisionandintheaccountofachild
areprohibitedfrombeingexpendedbytheDivisionforcertain
servicesorcare.However,thisbillprovidesthattheDivision
mayusethebenefitsadministeredbytheRailroadRetirementBoard,
theSocialSecurityAdministration, ortheVeteransAdministration
forthechild'sunmetneeds,asaredefinedinthebill,beyond
whattheDivisionisrequiredoragreestopay.
PLACEMENTOFACHILD(Section211.221)
Currently,whenplacingachildinthecustodyofanindividualor
aprivateagencyorinstitution,thecourtmust,whenever
practicable,selecteitheraperson,oranagencyorinstitution
governedbypersonsofthesamereligiousfaithasthatofthe
parentsofthechild,orincaseofadifferenceinthereligious
faithoftheparents,thenofthereligiousfaithofthechildor
ifthereligiousfaithofthechildisnotascertainable, thenof
thefaithofeitheroftheparents. Thisbillrequiresthe
Children'sDivision,withintheDepartmentofSocialServices,or
anychild-placingagencycontractingwiththeStatetoprovide
fostercareservicestofollowthesameprocedure.
ABUSEORNEGLECTOFACHILD(Section568.060and578.421)
Asspecifiedinthisbill,apersondoesnotcommittheoffenseof
abuseorneglectofachildbyvirtueofthesolefactthatthe
personallowsthechildtoengageinindependentactivitieswithout
adultsupervision,andthatthepersonisaparentorguardianto
thechild,providedthat: (1)Independentactivitiesareappropriatebasedonthechild's
age,maturity,andphysicalandmentalabilities;and
(2)Thelackofadultsupervisiondoesnotconstituteconductthat
issogrosslynegligentastoendangerthechild'shealthor
safety.
Asdefinedinthebill,"independentactivities"includetraveling
toorfromschoolornearbylocations,eitherbybicycleoron
foot;playingoutdoors;orremainingathomeforareasonable
periodoftimewithoutadultsupervision.
ThisbillisthesameasHB486(2025).