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Bill

H 205

An Act relating to background checks for kinship foster care

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Donnie Berthiaume and 1 co-sponsor

H 205 modifies background screening requirements for relatives becoming kinship foster parents in Massachusetts, balancing child safety with faster family placements.

Accompanied a study order, see H4883
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Bill Summary · H 205

Legislative bill overview

H 205 modifies background check requirements for kinship foster care in Massachusetts, where relatives care for children removed from parental custody. The bill adjusts which types of background screenings are required for relatives seeking to become licensed kinship foster parents, potentially streamlining the approval process.

Why is this important

Kinship care serves thousands of Massachusetts children annually and keeps them within family networks when parents cannot provide safe care. Background check requirements directly affect how quickly relatives can be licensed and how many family placements become available, influencing child welfare system capacity and outcomes.

Potential points of contention

  • Screening thoroughness vs. speed: Reducing background check requirements may expedite placements but could affect child safety vetting; stricter requirements protect children but may delay urgently needed placements
  • Equity concerns: Different standards for kinship caregivers versus non-relative foster parents may create inconsistency, or conversely, identical requirements may burden relatives disproportionately given their informal role
  • Definition scope: Unclear which specific background checks are added/removed (criminal history, abuse registry, fingerprinting, etc.), affecting actual policy impact

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

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