23 LC 33 9403
S. B. 216
- 1 -
Senate Bill 216
By: Senators Brass of the 28
th
, Rhett of the 33
rd
, Walker III of the 20
th
, Robertson of the 29
th
,
Esteves of the 6
th
and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 1 of Chapter 5 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
1
relating to children and youth services, so as to authorize respite care for foster parents for2
longer periods of time pursuant to circumstances delineated in rules and regulations3
established by the Department of Human Services; to revise terminology; to provide for4
related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6
SECTION 1.7
Article 1 of Chapter 5 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to8
children and youth services, is amended by revising Code Section 49-5-8.1, relating to9
short-term babysitting of child in foster care and the reasonable and prudent parent standard,10
as follows:11
"49-5-8.1.12
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:13
(1) 'Caregiver' means a foster parent with whom a child in foster care has been placed.14
(2) 'Occasional' means once per week or less on varying days and not exceeding twice15
per month.16
(3) 'Respite care' means occasional short-term relief for a caregiver by a person or entity.
17 23 LC 33 9403
S. B. 216
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(3)(4) 'Short-term' means no more than up to 72 consecutive hours or for such longer18
periods of time under such circumstances as may be delineated by the department19
pursuant to rules and regulations.20
(b) A caregiver may arrange for occasional short-term babysitting respite care of a child21
in foster care placed with such caregiver and allow individuals 18 years of age or older to22
supervise such child for purposes including, but not limited to, medical or other health care23
appointments for the caregiver, grocery or other shopping, personal grooming24
appointments, special occasions for the caregiver or caregivers, foster parent training25
classes, school related meetings, business meetings, adult social gatherings, or an26
occasional evening event out for the caregiver or caregivers.27
(c) A caregiver shall use a reasonable and prudent parent standard in selecting and28
arranging for appropriate babysitters for occasional short-term babysitting respite care29
pursuant to this Code section.30
(d) A caregiver shall make all reasonable efforts to provide the babysitter person or entity31
affording respite care with the following information before leaving the child with the32
babysitter for short-term babysitting person or entity affording respite care:33
(1) Information about the child's emotional, behavioral, medical, and physical condition,34
if any, necessary to provide care for such child during the short-term babysitting respite35
care period;36
(2) Any medication that should be administered to such child in foster care during the37
short-term babysitting respite care period; and38
(3) Emergency contact information that is valid for the duration of the short-term39
babysitting respite care period."40
SECTION 2.41
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.42