Committee approves Children & Family Services temporary rules: adoption fee waiver, contested-case changes, visitation supervision

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee approved a set of temporary rule dockets from the Department of Health and Welfare affecting adoption, contested-case appeals, and visitation for children in state custody.

Jared Larson described docket 160601-2403, which eliminates adoption fees previously charged to families adopting children from state custody. Larson said the change, enacted by Director Adams early in his tenure, is intended to underscore the state’s posture that it "favors adoption." The package also included contested-case procedure changes for the Child Protection Central Registry that the department said were recommended by the Attorney General’s office to address ongoing litigation and improve the state’s posture for defense.

For visitation, docket 160601-2404—recommended in part by Gene Fisher—requires direct supervision during visits for parents substantiated at level 1 or 2, prohibits children from sitting on a parent’s lap and disallows unmonitored conversations, steps the department said are intended to protect children with trauma histories.

Each temporary docket was moved and approved by voice vote with committee members expressing support; Senator Wintrow commended the department for swift action on child-safety rules.