(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to assess the impacts of the Tiered Rate Structure on children, nonminor dependents, families, placing agencies, and providers. This shall be done through the department providing updates on the ongoing implementation status of the Tiered Rate Structure, including, but not limited to, development of associated contracts, guidance, forms, training and status of technology infrastructure necessary to implement the rates structure, and an automation timeline, as specified below. (b) As required by this section, to the extent reasonably possible, and if the necessary information is provided to the department by its state, county, and provider partners, the department, in collaboration with the State Department of Health Care Services when necessary, shall provide information to the Legislature on key stages of planning, preparation, and implementation efforts and outcomes associated with the Tiered Rate Structure. (c) The department shall provide the Legislature, no later than January 10, 2026, with an analysis of the identified needs of children and nonminor dependents in Tier 2, Tier 3, and Tier 3+, the types of services necessary to address those needs, reasonable administration and operational activities necessary for providers to address those needs, and a cost analysis of those services. This cost analysis shall be based on engagement with stakeholders, including, but not limited to providers, current and former foster children and nonminor dependents, relative caregivers, resource families, and county child welfare agencies, which shall occur no later than winter of 2024. The analysis shall include the estimated breadth and duration of needed services, any factors related to the need for additional supervision, and other factors. It is the intent of the Legislature in adopting this subdivision that the rates for children and nonminor dependents in all placement settings, including those receiving services from foster family agencies and short-term residential therapeutic programs, be adequate to ensure the availability of services to children and nonminor dependents who need them. (d) No later than April 30, 2025, the department shall update the Legislature on the planning progress, with trend data, as appropriate, toward the implementation of the Tiered Rate Structure, which shall include a written status update regarding all of the following: (1) The Care and Supervision component of the Tiered Rate Structure, which shall include the development of criteria and capacity for placing agencies to timely conduct IP-CANS assessments to fidelity for all children and nonminor dependents in foster care. (2) The Immediate Needs Program, which shall include an update on working groups to inform the departmentâs guidance regarding the minimum standards for the program and the requirements, standards, and process by which an immediate needs provider shall be certified by the department. (3) A summary of findings from the CANS workgroup and fidelity of IP-CANS and the IP-CANS and child and family team completion, including IP-CANS and child and family team timeliness, progress towards implementing shared IP-CANS, and trend data. (4) The Strengths Building Program, which shall include an update on the request for proposal contract development for Strengths Building Program spending plan managers and the development of working groups to inform the departmentâs guidance for the Strengths Building Program. The department shall also provide information, informed by working groups that include foster youth with lived experience, caregivers, placing agencies, tribes, and other advocacy organizations, related to strengths building and outcomes, including, but not limited to: (A) The process by which children and families or nonminor dependents will be supported to select services that meet program standards and guidelines. (B) A streamlined referral process to a spending plan manager, the scope of d
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