More insurance protection sought for foster families

Children traumatized from neglect and abuse bring a range of survival mechanisms with them into a foster home, some of which can be incredibly destructive, Rep. Peggy Bennett (R-Albert Lea) told the House Health and Human Services Finance Committee Tuesday.

HF986, sponsored by Bennett, would expand state insurance coverage for foster home providers in order to cover property damage caused by the children in their care.

Rep. Peggy Bennett

It was held over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill. A companion, SF794, sponsored by Sen. Tony Lourey (DFL-Kerrick), awaits action by the Senate Human Services Reform Finance and Policy Committee.

The bill would increase liability coverage for property damage and destruction from $250 to $1,000 for each incident not covered by the foster family’s standard homeowner’s or car insurance.

Coverage would also expand to include damage caused intentionally by foster children older than 12 years old. Under current statute, intentional damage is only covered until the foster child turns 13.

This support is particularly important for families, as much of the property damage caused by foster children fails to meet insurance deductibles, but adds up quickly and can become a burden, Bennett said.

Compensation for injury and some kinds of property damage that result from a foster family’s service remain as high as $250,000 for each occurrence.

Earlier versions of the bill included a provision to reimburse families for the cost of adding a foster child to their car insurance policy, but those sections were removed by a sponsor’s amendment adopted by the House Health and Human Services Reform Committee March 9.