Narrowed scope to RSDI foster benefits, added state study, and delayed implementation

The amended bill limits county child welfare agency duties specifically to Federal Retirement, Survivors and Disability Insurance (RSDI) benefits, removing coverage for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), veterans benefits, and other programs. It introduces a mandatory study by the Joint State Government Commission and subsequent review by the Department of Human Services regarding foster care Social Security management. Additionally, the amendment adjusts county agency operational requirements and delays the full implementation of the act until January 1, 2028.

• Section 2: Replaced the broad definition of 'Benefits' with 'RSDI benefits', removing Supplemental Security Income (SSI), veterans benefits, and other federal/state benefit programs from the bill's scope.
• Sections 3 & 4: Added new sections mandating the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study and issue a report on managing foster children's Social Security benefits, followed by a Department of Human Services review to consider an implementation plan.
• Section 5.1(2): Extended the timeline for county agencies to apply for RSDI benefits following a determination of potential eligibility from 60 days to 90 days.
• Section 5.1(5): Lowered the age at which county agencies must begin transition planning for maintaining benefits from 16 years and 6 months to 14 years and 6 months, and added specific duties for transitioning representative payees.
• Section 5.1(6): Clarified prohibitions against using RSDI benefits to reimburse county care or maintenance costs, and added a requirement to obtain and document consent before spending a child's RSDI benefits.
• Section 5.1(9) & (10): Required quarterly benefit accountings to be submitted to the Department of Human Services in addition to the child, and replaced structured financial literacy training with documented benefit conservation counseling.
• Section 5.1(11) & (12) (former): Removed former requirements for feasibility assessments on repayments for mismanaged benefits and annual public data reporting.
• Section 5.1(13) (former 15): Replaced the 9-month implementation guidance window with set deadlines of December 31, 2026 for stakeholder meetings and December 31, 2027 for guidance issuance.
• Section 5: Changed the general effective date from 60 days after enactment to January 1, 2028, while making study and guidance provisions effective immediately.

Lowered age threshold for benefit maintenance planning and corrected agency name

The updated bill requires county agencies to begin preparing benefit maintenance plans when a foster child reaches 14 years of age, down from 14 years and 6 months. It also adjusts stakeholder meeting requirements, corrects the name of the Department of Human Services in Section 4, and standardizes text capitalization.

• Section 5.1(5): Lowered the age at which a county agency must begin preparing a plan to support the maintenance of RSDI benefits for a foster child from 14 years and 6 months to 14 years of age.
• Section 5.1(13)(i): Broadened stakeholder meeting representation from county child welfare 'directors' to county child welfare representatives generally.
• Section 4: Corrected the entity responsible for reviewing the study recommendations from the 'Department of Human Resources' to the 'Department of Human Services'.
• Bill-wide: Replaced ALL-CAPS text added in the prior draft with standard sentence and title case.