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HB 6179

AN ACT INCREASING THE PER-CHILD FOSTER CARE MAINTENANCE PAYMENT RATE.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Corey Paris

Connecticut bill increases foster care payments to foster parents to better cover children's living expenses and encourage more families to participate in child welfare system.

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Committee on Children
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Bill Summary · HB 6179

Legislative bill overview

HB 6179 proposes to increase the per-child foster care maintenance payment rate in Connecticut. This payment is the stipend provided to foster parents to cover food, clothing, shelter, and other basic needs for children in their care. The bill aims to adjust these rates, though the specific dollar increase is not detailed in the available information.

Why is this important

Foster care maintenance payments directly affect whether families can afford to take in vulnerable children. Inadequate rates can discourage people from becoming foster parents, reduce the quality of care children receive, and strain the already-stretched child welfare system. Connecticut's rates have likely not kept pace with inflation and actual living costs, making this adjustment potentially significant for recruitment and retention of foster families.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost to state budget: Increasing per-child payments will require additional state funding; legislators may debate whether this is fiscally feasible amid other budget priorities
  • Rate adequacy debate: Stakeholders may disagree on how much of an increase is necessary—foster parent advocates may argue for substantial increases while fiscal conservatives may prefer modest adjustments
  • Implementation questions: Unclear whether increases apply uniformly to all foster children or vary by age, special needs status, or other factors, which could affect fairness and effectiveness

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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