Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the State Board of Social Services intends to consider amending 22VAC40-201, Permanency Services - Prevention, Foster Care, Adoption and Independent Living. The permanency services regulation provides standards for local departments of social services for prevention, foster care, adoption, and independent living services. The purpose of the proposed action is to conform the regulation to the Code of Virginia and federal laws and to make any other changes the agency deems necessary after comments and review, including conforming to (i) Chapter 200 of the 2017 Acts of Assembly, which changes the name of the Putative Father Registry to Virginia Birth Father Registry and requires additional information be added to the registry so that putative fathers can be notified prior to court proceedings for termination of parental rights and adoption regarding a child who a registrant may have fathered and (ii) Chapter 187 of the 2017 Acts of Assembly, which requires youth who turn 18 years of age while in foster care be enrolled in Medicaid, provided they do not object, and makes those youth eligible to be given the opportunity to participate in a survey to provide feedback regarding the youth's experience while in foster care.

The agency does not intend to hold a public hearing on the proposed action after publication in the Virginia Register.

Statutory Authority: §§ 63.2-217, 63.2-319, and 63.2-900 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Comment Deadline: November 29, 2017.

Agency Contact: Em Parente, Department of Social Services, 801 East Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 726-7895, FAX (804) 726-7538, or email em.parente@dss.virginia.gov.