| 11 | 11 | | |
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| 12 | 12 | | AN ACT ADOPTING A FOSTER PARENT BILL OF RIGHTS. |
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| 13 | 13 | | |
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| 14 | 14 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened: |
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| 15 | 15 | | |
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| 16 | 16 | | 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: |
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| 17 | 17 | | |
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| 18 | 18 | | (1) To be treated with consideration and respect as a member of the placement team for the foster child; |
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| 19 | 19 | | |
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| 20 | 20 | | (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; |
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| 21 | 21 | | |
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| 22 | 22 | | (3) To be notified of court hearings and administrative case review meetings concerning a foster child in his or her care; |
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| 23 | 23 | | |
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| 24 | 24 | | (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; |
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| 25 | 25 | | |
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| 26 | 26 | | (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; |
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| 27 | 27 | | |
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| 28 | 28 | | (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; |
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| 29 | 29 | | |
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| 30 | 30 | | (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; |
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| 31 | 31 | | |
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| 32 | 32 | | (8) To be provided with information on all department policies and procedures that relate to the role of a foster parent; |
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| 33 | 33 | | |
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| 34 | 34 | | (9) To be provided with appropriate training to enhance relevant skills and abilities of the foster parent; |
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| 35 | 35 | | |
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| 36 | 36 | | (10) To be provided with information on support services that are available through the department for a foster child; |
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| 37 | 37 | | |
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| 38 | 38 | | (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; |
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| 39 | 39 | | |
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| 40 | 40 | | (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 |
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| 41 | 41 | | |
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| 42 | 42 | | (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. |
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| 43 | 43 | | |
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| 44 | 44 | | (b) This section does not create, and may not be construed to create, a cause of action for a foster parent. |
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| 45 | 45 | | |
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| 46 | 46 | | |
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| 47 | 47 | | |
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| 48 | 48 | | |
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| 49 | 49 | | This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: |
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| 50 | 50 | | Section 1 October 1, 2012 New section |
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| 51 | 51 | | |
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| 52 | 52 | | This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: |
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| 53 | 53 | | |
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| 54 | 54 | | Section 1 |
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| 55 | 55 | | |
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| 56 | 56 | | October 1, 2012 |
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| 57 | 57 | | |
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| 58 | 58 | | New section |
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| 59 | 59 | | |
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| 60 | 60 | | |
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| 61 | 61 | | |
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| 62 | 62 | | KID Joint Favorable Subst. C/R HS |
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