House Gives Preliminary Approval To Foster Care Bill

A bill that attempts to address the issues raised after the death of a two-year-old in the care of foster parents has advanced in the House. Speaker Catherine Hanaway of Warson Woods sponsors the measure. She points out it would re-structure how the state handles hotline calls, so the most urgent go first. It would have the state prefer relatives for foster care and would require child abuse allegations to go to court within 72 hours. Hanaway says she has worked hard to address the issues raised by Governor Bob Holden after he vetoed a similar measure last year. The bill needs another favorable vote to move to the Senate.