Foster licensing overhaul approved: reasonable-prudent-parent standard, younger foster-parent eligibility, and debate over weapons storage

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee approved rule changes to foster care licensing that replace age-based limits with a reasonable prudent parent standard, reduce foster-application processing time, and clarify household safety requirements — including a provision on weapons and ammunition storage.

Jared Larson described the changes in docket 160602-2402 as adoption of a national model for foster-family licensing. Key changes include allowing departmental discretion to deviate from model standards (with federal requirements remaining mandatory), shortening application processing from 30 days to 1 day, committing the department to cover reasonable accommodation costs (for example, smoke detectors or fire extinguishers), and lowering the foster-parent minimum age from 21 to 18 to enable certain older siblings and experienced caregivers to serve as foster parents under the reasonable prudent parent standard.

Senator Shippey questioned whether a rule requiring weapons and ammunition to be stored separately, locked and unloaded is statutory or departmental; Julie Subchak, program manager for Children and Family Services, said the provision was part of the National Model Licensing Standards and has been included in rules previously to prevent children—particularly those with trauma histories—from accessing firearms and ammunition.

Speaking from experience as a licensed foster parent, Senator Shippey expressed concern that the storage requirement could "disarm" foster families and limit their ability to defend children in the event of an emergency; Larson said the department would work with her during the interim to consider language to address safety concerns.

Senators moved and approved the foster licensing dockets by voice vote; the committee recorded no roll-call opposition at the hearing.