Committee adopts amendment and refers bill to prioritize foster children for after-school care

House Education Policy Committee Chair Jordan opened consideration of House File 3714 and the committee adopted the bill's A3 author's amendment before voting to refer the bill to the Education Finance Committee.

Representative Carty, the bill sponsor, said the measure aims to reduce barriers preventing foster families from enrolling children in before- and after-school programs and to increase transparency for foster families. "This bill removes barriers for families to make one of those defining decisions, placing fosters in school programming, which cascades into better grades, attendance, education pathways, stability, and thriving futures," said Osohan, executive director of Foster Advocates, in testimony supporting the bill.

The A3 amendment deleted two sections: one requiring annual community-education reporting and another tied to a childcare allowance portion of the assessment, and it added statutory references to the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (the state counterpart to ICWA). The amendment also adjusted verification timelines from 48 hours to five business days in several places, a change sponsors said gives districts more time to confirm placements.

Teacher and foster parent Zua Vu described personal costs and disruption caused by not having immediate access to school programming after a child's placement: she said childcare and before/after-school costs exceeded about $26,000 over two years while stipends were roughly $600 per month for three children. A written testimony by Deborah Jackson, read by Ayanna Lee of Foster Advocates, made similar points about financial strain and disrupted placements.

Members asked whether the bill has a fiscal note and whether federal tax credits could help fund expanded capacity. Representative Carty and witnesses said finance questions are for Education Finance and that fiscal elements were removed from the amendment; the sponsor said they asked for a fiscal note. Committee members also pressed how prioritization would work when programs are full; witnesses clarified the bill requests prioritization for available slots rather than reserved spots.

Following discussion, the committee referred HF3714 as amended to the Education Finance Committee by voice vote. No roll-call tally was recorded in the committee transcript.

The bill will next be considered by the Education Finance Committee, where members said fiscal impacts and funding sources will be examined.