General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 5186
February Session, 2012 *_____HB05186HS____032612____*
General Assembly
Substitute Bill No. 5186
February Session, 2012
*_____HB05186HS____032612____*
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. A foster parent's rights include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) To be treated with consideration and respect as a member of the placement team for the foster child;
(2) To be notified 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) To be notified of court hearings and administrative case review meetings concerning a foster child in his or her care;
(4) To be provided with support services to assist in the care of the foster child that are consistent with the foster child's approved permanency plan;
(5) To be provided with open, complete and timely responses to requests for additional information that is relevant to the care of the foster child;
(6) To be provided 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) To be provided with information concerning the educational history, life experiences and placement circumstances of the foster child, as permitted under state and federal law;
(8) To be provided with information on all department policies and procedures that relate to the role of a foster parent;
(9) To be provided with appropriate training to enhance relevant skills and abilities of the foster parent;
(10) To be provided with information on support services that are available through the department for a foster child;
(11) To be provided with an opportunity to be heard regarding department decisions and practices with respect to the foster child or the role of a foster parent, without the department retaliating against a foster parent who questions or appeals a decision or practice of the department;
(12) To be provided with information that allows the foster parent to contact the department twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week for the purpose of receiving departmental assistance to address the needs of a foster child in such foster parent's care; and
(13) To be provided with a copy of the foster parent bill of rights when a child is placed in foster care with the foster parent and at any time thereafter upon request of the foster parent.
(b) This section does not create, and may not be construed to create, a cause of action for a foster parent.
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
KID Joint Favorable Subst. C/R HS
HS Joint Favorable
KID
Joint Favorable Subst. C/R
HS
HS
Joint Favorable