TOPEKA — The Kansas Senate is debating a conservative Republican’s bill to create a new pilot program to have couples who have stable marriages and don’t use tobacco or alcohol to serve as foster parents.
The measure from Republican Sen. Forrest Knox of Altoona being debated Monday night would create a new class of foster homes for abused and neglected children known as CARE families. Couples would have to have been legally married for at least seven years.
At least one spouse could not work outside the home. No one in the home could use tobacco, and there could be no alcohol present.
The couples legally could make educational decisions for the children in their care and could be reimbursed for expenses for home or private schooling.
