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HB 819

Relative Caregiver Program Payments

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Ashley Gantt and 1 co-sponsor

HB 819 would have established state payments to relatives caring for children in their homes, reducing foster care system burden while supporting informal kinship arrangements.

Died in Human Services Subcommittee
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Bill Summary · HB 819

Legislative bill overview

HB 819 proposed to establish or modify payment mechanisms for relative caregivers in Florida's child welfare or foster care system. The bill would have provided financial support to relatives caring for children who might otherwise enter state custody, reducing reliance on non-relative foster placements.

Why is this important

Relative caregivers (grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.) often step in to prevent children from entering the formal foster care system, but frequently lack adequate financial resources. This bill addressed a genuine gap where relatives provide essential childcare without comparable compensation to licensed foster parents, affecting thousands of Florida families and the state's child welfare costs.

Potential points of contention

  • Fiscal impact and funding source: Unclear whether the state would adequately fund relative caregiver payments or if this would compete with existing foster care budgets and child welfare services
  • Eligibility criteria: Disagreement over which relatives qualify, income thresholds, and oversight mechanisms to prevent fraud or misuse of funds
  • Program administration: Questions about how the state would implement, monitor, and manage payments to informal caregivers versus regulated foster families

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

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