General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5186
February Session, 2012 LCO No. 456
*00456_______KID*
Referred to Committee on Select Committee on Children
Introduced by:
(KID)
General Assembly
Raised Bill No. 5186
February Session, 2012
LCO No. 456
*00456_______KID*
Referred to Committee on Select Committee on Children
Introduced by:
(KID)
AN ACT ADOPTING A FOSTER PARENT BILL OF RIGHTS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2012) (a) There is established a foster parent bill of rights for any person who is licensed as a foster parent by the Department of Children and Families. The foster parent bill of rights shall require the department to:
(1) Treat the foster parent with consideration and respect as a member of the placement team;
(2) Notify the foster parent of meetings scheduled by the department concerning the foster child in order to allow the foster parent to actively participate and have input into the case planning and decision-making process regarding the foster child;
(3) Notify the foster parent of court hearings and administrative case review meetings regarding children in his or her care;
(4) Provide the foster parent with support services to assist in the care of the foster child that are consistent with the foster child's approved permanency plan;
(5) Provide the foster parent with open, complete and timely responses to requests;
(6) Provide the foster parent with information concerning the foster child's medical history, general behavior and relationships with other foster parents, as permitted under state and federal law;
(7) Provide the foster parent with information concerning the educational history, life experiences and placement circumstances of the foster child, as permitted under state and federal law;
(8) Provide the foster parent with information on all department policies and procedures that relate to the role of a foster parent;
(9) Provide the foster parent with appropriate training to enhance relevant skills and abilities of the foster parent;
(10) Provide the foster parent with (A) information on services that are available through the department, and (B) contact information that allows the foster parent to contact the department at any time;
(11) Provide the foster parent with an opportunity to be heard regarding department decisions and practices, and not retaliate against a foster parent who questions or appeals a decision or practice of the department;
(12) Provide the foster parent with notice of the right to contact the department for an administrative hearing as described in subsection (b) of this section; and
(13) Provide the foster parent with a copy of the foster parent bill of rights (A) when a child is placed in foster care with the foster parent, and (B) upon request of the foster parent.
(b) Any licensed foster parent aggrieved by any violation of this section may contact the department to request an administrative hearing.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2012 New section
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1
October 1, 2012
New section
Statement of Purpose:
To establish a foster parent bill of rights.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]