Subcommittee restores $1.5 million to children's advocacy centers and advances foster-care workforce measures

Erin Page, presenting the Department of Family and Community Services closeout on March 6, told the committee that compared to the FY27 adjusted base DFCS' overall budget falls by about $5 million (1%), largely due to alignment of federal receipt authority. "Overall, UGF appropriations to DFCS increased by about $3,200,000 or 1.1%," Page said.

The subcommittee added a $1,500,000 increment to children's advocacy centers (CACs) to offset a $1,500,000 reduction in Victims of Crime Act funding that had previously flowed to CACs through the Department of Public Safety. Page explained the funding is a different fund source than the CACs had when they last appeared before the committee.

Page also described subcommittee actions intended to support foster-care operations and to help comply with HB 151, including workforce stabilization for case-carrying protection service specialists and an intent amendment requiring documented efforts to place foster children with family or friends.

Representative Stapp and other members verified the tracking of CS1 changes to the subcommittee additions; committee members asked for total cost estimates tied to community and regional jails and other items in later hearings. No formal committee votes were taken during this presentation.