HB 3709

Abstract

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to establish and implement a 3-year pilot program that rewards youth in care who are placed in congregate care a specified monetary amount for certain letter grades they receive on each school report card. Provides that reward amounts shall not exceed the following amounts: (1) $50 for each letter grade A or its equivalent on another grading scale; (2) $35 for each letter grade B or its equivalent on another grading scale; and (3) $15 for each letter grade C or its equivalent on another grading scale. Provides that no reward amounts shall be given for lower grades or their equivalent on another grading scale. Requires the Department to establish and implement a 3-year pilot program that rewards youth placed in congregate care a specified monetary amount for increases in cumulative grade point average or its equivalent on another scale. Provides that the Department shall determine by rule which 3 increases in cumulative grade point average to reward under the pilot program. Limits reward amounts as follows: (i) $50 for the highest increase in cumulative grade point average or its equivalent on another scale; (ii) $35 for the second highest increase in cumulative grade point average or its equivalent on another scale; (iii) $15 for the third highest increase in cumulative grade point average or its equivalent on another scale. Provides that no reward amounts shall be given for lower increases in cumulative grade point average or their equivalent on another scale. Requires both programs to be implement by January 1, 2020. Requires the Department to track a sample of youth who receive monetary rewards under the pilot programs and to submit a report of its findings to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1, 2022. Effective immediately.