2.__Specialized children's homes.__A person who maintains a specialized children's home shall have liability insurance pursuant to Title 5, section 1738.

SUMMARY

This bill requires the State to administer a liability insurance policy for certain foster and adoptive parents. The requirement applies to foster parents who maintain family foster homes and to foster parents who maintain specialized children's homes for children with special needs, and it applies to adoptive parents who receive state adoption assistance for children with special needs. The required liability insurance must include coverage for personal injury and for legal defense against claims made against the foster or adoptive parent. The bill specifies that the cost of the insurance premium must be paid annually by the foster parent through a deduction from the foster care reimbursement payment and must be paid annually by the adoptive parent through a deduction from the adoption assistance payment. The bill also prohibits the State from requiring any adoptive parent to pay child support after an adoption is annulled by the court.