A preliminary assessment has been launched by State Auditor Alison Ball to determine if the governor and Cabinet for Health and Family Services can implement Senate Bill 151.
The legislation was signed by Governor Beshear in April. It allows a child to submit names of possible relatives or fictive kin caregivers with whom the child could be placed if they’re removed from their home.
Ball’s office plans on looking at what money, if any, is available at the federal level to assist with the implementation of the bill.
The auditor recently spoke at the Interim Joint Committee Families and Children meeting. She said there are several reasons to be involved in this issue.
“At this point, we are going to make all attempts to make this a collaborative effort with the Governor and CHFS but rest assured, we're going to do everything that we can to figure out the facts,” said Ball.
Ball added it is too early to say what the outcome will be.
“It may very well be that the money is already there. So what I need to do, my responsibility at this point is like I said, it's a preliminary assessment. So it's not an official report at this point and it will probably lead to an official report with official information for you all so you can decide if anything needs to be done and it may very well be that nothing more needs to be done,’ said Ball.
The auditor inquiry comes after Norma Hatfield, president of the Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky, filed an official complaint that the law was not being followed.
Cabinet officials said they cannot implement the law if the money isn’t there. Lawmakers have urged them to apply for federal funding or use existing budget dollars.