FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 15, 2025) – Today, Kentucky Auditor Allison Ball filed a lawsuit in Franklin Circuit Court to stand up for vulnerable Kentucky children and the kinship caregivers who support them. This lawsuit seeks to compel Governor Beshear and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) to cooperate with a critical investigation into Senate Bill 151's lack of implementation.
SB 151, passed unanimously by the Kentucky General Assembly during the 2024 regular session, was created to strengthen kinship care, a lifeline for relatives who step in to care for displaced children. The auditor's office launched an investigation into the law's lack of implementation in order to identify solutions for the timely and effective distribution of kinship care resources, as mandated by SB 151.
“This issue goes beyond funding and bureaucratic delays. It's about doing what is right for Kentucky's most vulnerable children and their caregivers. They deserve transparency, accountability, and meaningful action," Auditor Ball said. “I started this examination to determine why a lawfully passed bill meant to help children and families was not being faithfully executed. Governor Beshear's CHFS refuses to cooperate with the examination and today I am asking the court to step in to require them to follow the laws of our Commonwealth."
To view the full complaint, click here.
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