Ohio HB 130, a bill passed by the Ohio House of Representatives that became effective July 20, 2004. The legislation permits in specified circumstances the execution of a power of attorney or caretaker authorization affidavit that provides a grandparent with whom a child resides authority over the care, physical custody, and control of the child, including ability to enroll the child in school and to consent to medical care for the child, among other purposes.
Ohio HB 178, a bill introduced April 6, 2005 in the Ohio House of Representatives, to expand who may execute a caretaker authorization affidavit to any qualified relative of a child. The bill defines a "qualified relative" as any person over 18 years of age who is related to a child by blood, marriage, or marriage that has been legally terminated.
Explanation: Under HB 130, if a child is living with a grandparent who has made reasonable attempts to locate the child's parent, guardian, or custodian, but has been unable to do so, the grandparent may obtain authority to exercise care, physical custody, and control of the child through a caretaker authorization affidavit. This authority includes the ability to enroll the child in school and to consent to medical, psychological, or dental treatment for the child. The grandparent may also obtain authority to discuss with the school district the child's educational progress and to consent to all school-related matters regarding the child. HB 178 expands who may execute a caretaker authorization affidavit from a grandparent to any qualified relative who has made reasonable attempts to locate the child's parent, guardian, or custodian, but has been unable to do so.
Link to HB 178 bill analysis
S. 661, a bill first introduced May 10, 2005 in the U.S. Senate by Senator Hillary R. Clinton (D-NY) and re-introduced in 2007 (co-sponsors Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-ME, Sen. Thad Cochran, R-MS) to authorize the Department of Health and Human Services to make grants for kinship navigator programs to state agencies, metropolitan agencies, or tribal organizations with experience in addressing needs of kinship caregivers or children and connecting them with services and assistance; to establish kinship navigator programs and to establish kinship guardianship assistance payments for children, among other purposes.
Link to Library of Congress "Thomas" - Search for S. 661
Link to explanation of S. 661 (press release by CWLA) |
Kinship Caregiver Coalition 