Sweeping child welfare reforms head to the Missouri governor’s desk as legislators back new supports for foster families and vulnerable children.
Missouri is on the verge of passing landmark child welfare legislation that addresses crucial issues affecting the state’s most vulnerable children. House Bill 737, approved by the Missouri House of Representatives with a vote of 129-14 on April 24, now awaits one final Senate vote before heading to Governor Mike Parson’s desk. With broad bipartisan support and only minor changes to an earlier version, approval from the Senate is expected as early as April 28.
House Bill 737 introduces sweeping reforms aimed at bolstering protections for children in Missouri. One notable provision would end the controversial practice of the state seizing federal survivor benefits from foster children to cover foster care costs. During the last fiscal year, the state took more than $10.6 million from about 1,200 foster kids receiving these benefits. Critics argue it’s unjust to deprive foster children of resources they need to start their adult lives, especially when they age out of the system with limited financial support.
The bill also addresses child marriage, raising the minimum legal age to marry to 18. Current Missouri law permits children as young as 16 to marry with parental consent, though prior to 2018, children as young as 15 could marry, and younger ones could do so with judicial approval. Child advocates have long expressed concerns about these laws, which they say leave minors vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.
Another crucial provision in HB 737 is the prohibition of judicial enforcement of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in child sexual abuse cases. NDAs, often used in civil settlements, can silence victims and protect abusers from public accountability. Advocates argue that eliminating NDAs in these cases will empower survivors to speak out and expose perpetrators, thereby preventing further harm. This provision was also unanimously passed as stand-alone legislation under House Bill 709 just days earlier.
These reforms collectively aim to create a safer, more just environment for Missouri’s children. For lawmakers and advocates, HB 737 represents a significant step forward in protecting the rights and futures of young people across the state. With the governor’s approval likely imminent, Missouri could soon be setting a new standard for child welfare legislation.
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