DCFS-FOSTER CARE RATES

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services shall work with representatives of voluntary foster care providers and foster parents to determine rates to be paid to foster parents of wards of the State for State fiscal year 2009 that will equitably distribute moneys appropriated to the Department to fund an increase in the cost of care reimbursement rate for foster parents according to a national methodology such as the Foster Care MARC (Minimum Adequate Rates for Children) developed by the Children's Rights/National Foster Parent Association and the University of Maryland School of Social Work. Requires the Department to work with such representatives to establish a methodology for calculating foster caregiver reimbursement rates. Requires the Department to adopt rules for the development and review of the methodology no later than January 1, 2009. Effective July 1, 2008.