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HB 795NORTH CAROLINASession 2025State Billpassed chamber

Passed

North Carolina expands foster care guardianship assistance to youth aged 10 and older

Original title: Increased Access for Youth in Foster Families.

Last action · May 7, 2025: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate (Senate action)Sponsors: Donnie Loftis and 18 others

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Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Would Do

North Carolina House Bill 795 expands eligibility for the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program and general guardianship assistance to children who have attained 10 years of age, effective July 1, 2025. The measure permits financial support payments for eligible children exiting foster care into relative or legal guardianship, and allows payments to continue up to age 21 under specific education, employment, or disability conditions.

Why it matters

The measure directly alters financial support eligibility for children leaving foster care, establishing state-funded room and board reimbursement rates equivalent to foster care for legal and relative guardians while covering up to $2,000 in nonrecurring legal expenses.

Background

The General Assembly of North Carolina is the state legislature responsible for enacting statutory changes to health, human services, and foster care programs. context

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Youth in foster care

Children aged 10 and older become eligible for kinship and general guardianship assistance programs, altering their potential placement and support structures.

Directly affected

Relative and legal guardians

Guardians become eligible to receive room and board reimbursement rates set at foster care levels and up to $2,000 for nonrecurring legal expenses.

Directly affected

County child welfare agencies

Agencies are required to negotiate and enter into written, binding guardianship assistance agreements with eligible prospective guardians.

Key Facts

Children who have attained 10 years of age are eligible for kinship guardianship assistance payments if they demonstrate a strong attachment to a licensed prospective relative guardian who has a strong commitment to caring permanently for the child.
Guardianship assistance program rates reimburse legal and relative guardians for room and board at the same rate as foster care room and board rates.
The State will pay the total cost of nonrecurring expenses associated with obtaining legal guardianship up to $2,000.
Individuals who exited foster care under a guardianship assistance agreement may continue receiving payments after turning 18 and up to age 21 if they meet education, employment, or medical/disability criteria and entered the agreement after attaining 16 years of age.

Show all 6 facts

A child under 10 years of age is eligible for kinship guardianship assistance if their sibling meets the program requirements and the county agency and guardian agree.
Section 1 of the act becomes effective July 1, 2025, and the Social Services Commission is directed to adopt temporary rules to implement the provisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum age for a child to be eligible for guardianship assistance under this bill?

A child must have attained 10 years of age, or be under 10 years of age if they have a sibling who meets the requirements and the agency and guardian agree.

How much financial reimbursement do guardians receive for room and board?

Guardians are reimbursed for room and board at the same rate as foster care room and board rates established under G.S. 108A-49.1.

Can guardianship assistance payments continue after a youth turns 18?

Yes, payments may continue until age 21 if the youth attained 16 years of age before the agreement became effective and meets educational, employment, or disability criteria.

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Where This Stands

Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.

Procedural history

14 actions

May 7, 2025Senate
Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
May 7, 2025Senate
Passed 1st Reading
May 7, 2025Senate
Special Message Received From House
May 7, 2025House
Special Message Sent To Senate
May 7, 2025House
Passed 3rd Reading
May 7, 2025House
Passed 2nd Reading

Show 8 earlier actions

May 6, 2025House
Placed On Cal For 05/07/2025
May 6, 2025House
Cal Pursuant Rule 36(b)
May 6, 2025House
Reptd Fav
May 6, 2025House
Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
May 6, 2025House
Reptd Fav Com Substitute
Apr 8, 2025House
Ref to the Com on Judiciary 2, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
Apr 8, 2025House
Passed 1st Reading
Apr 7, 2025HouseIntroduced
Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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