1.Payments by department. The department shall provide payments to facilities caring for children to meet the costs of clothing, board and care, within the limits of available funds. The department may establish, by rule, different categories of facilities, levels of need and care and flat-rate or reimbursement methods to distribute these funds. The department may provide child care and travel expense payments to foster and adoptive parents and trainers participating in foster and adoptive parent training programs and volunteers participating in the administrative case review program. Notwithstanding section 4061, subsection 3, any federally recognized Indian tribe in this State or any Indian foster family home is eligible for benefits and reimbursement under any state or federally funded program administered by the State for the benefit of Maine children, including, but not limited to, children within the jurisdiction of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, Penobscot Nation, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians or Mi'kmaq Nation under the federal Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, 25 United States Code, Section 1901, et seq. or the Maine Indian Child Welfare Act.
[2023, c. 359, §8(AMD).]
2.Unexpended balance. An unexpended balance of funds for these purposes shall not be transferred to another account and shall not lapse. [1979, c. 733, §18(NEW).]
3.Priority of payments. The department shall ensure that payments for foster care made under this subchapter have the same priority as payments for temporary assistance for needy families pursuant to section 3769, subsection 1. [1997, c. 530, Pt. A, §31(AMD).]
4.Kinship and sibling preferences. In the residential placement of a child, the department shall comply with section 4005-G. [2017, c. 411, §13(AMD).]
Amended by 2023SP1, c. 359,§ 8, eff. 6/30/2023.Amended by 2018, c. 411,§ 13, eff. 8/1/2018.1979, c. 733, § 18 (NEW) . 1985, c. 521, (AMD) . 1991, c. 747, § 4 (AMD) . 1997, c. 530, §A31 (AMD) . 1999, c. 382, § 1 (AMD) . 1999, c. 392, § 1 (AMD) .