OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS

Legislative Office Building, Room 5200

Hartford, CT 06106 ↓ (860) 240-0200

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sSB-156

AN ACT CONCERNING SIBLING VISITATION FOR CHILDREN IN THE CARE AND CUSTODY OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

AMENDMENT

LCO No.: 3989

File Copy No.: 405

Senate Calendar No.: 292

OFA Fiscal Note

REDUCES FY 15 FISCAL IMPACT BY $2.5 MILLION

The amendment strikes the underlying bill and replaces it with language that reduces its fiscal impact by $2.5 million in FY 15. Within available appropriations, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) must ensure that children in their care and custody that both reside in the state and within 50 miles of their sibling(s) visit their sibling(s) not less than once a week on average. If the bill were to be implemented, the DCF cost would be up to $91, 000.¹ This potential cost would be reduced should: (1) certain foster parents choose to provide supervision and/or transportation at no cost to the state, (2) supervision prove unnecessary for a portion of older children that may use public transportation for visits, instead of being driven by a case worker aide or guardian, and (3) the Commissioner determine that sibling visitation or frequency of visitation is not in the best interests of certain children.

The preceding Fiscal Impact statement is prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for the purposes of information, summarization and explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst's professional knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.