2021 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 151
BY SENATORS BARROW, ALLAIN, BERNARD, BOUDREAUX, BOUIE, CATHEY,
CLOUD, CONNICK, CORTEZ, FIELDS, FOIL, HARRIS, HENRY,
HENSGENS, HEWITT, JACKSON, JOHNS, LUNEAU, MCMATH,
MILLIGAN, FRED MILLS, ROBERT MILLS, MIZELL, MORRIS,
PEACOCK, POPE, PRICE, REESE, SMITH, TALBOT, TARVER,
WARD, WHITE AND WOMACK AND REPRESENTATIVES
ADAMS, BEAULLIEU, BOURRIAQUE, BRASS, BRYANT, GARY
CARTER, ROBBY CARTER, WILFORD CARTER, CORMIER,
COUSSAN, COX, DUPLESSIS, FREEMAN, GLOVER, HARRIS,
HUGHES, IVEY, JAMES, JEFFERSON, JENKINS, MIKE JOHNSON,
TRAVIS JOHNSON, JONES, LANDRY, LARVADAIN, MARCELLE,
MARINO, MOORE, NEWELL, SELDERS, STAGNI, THOMPSON,
TURNER, WHITE, WILLARD AND WRIGHT
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
1 AN ACT
2 To enact Subpart D-1A of Part II of Chapter 3 of Title 46 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes
3 of 1950, to be comprised of R.S. 46:286.16, relative to youth in foster care; to create
4 the Foster Youth's Bill of Rights; to provide for rights of youth in foster care; to
5 provide for an effective date; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. Subpart D-1A of Part II of Chapter 3 of Title 46 of the Louisiana Revised
8 Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 46:286.16, is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 SUBPART D-1A. FOSTER YOUTH'S BILL OF RIGHTS
10 ยง286.16. Short title; purpose; rights
11 A. This Subpart shall be cited as the "Foster Youth's Bill of Rights".
12 B. The Department of Children and Family Services shall implement,
13 promote, and support the rights contained in this Section through the policies
14 and practices of the department as applied to youth ages fourteen through
15 eighteen who are in foster care in this state.
16 C. Youth ages fourteen through eighteen in foster care in this state are
17 entitled to the following rights granted to them when it is determined by the
18 department to be in the best interest of the youth:
19 (1) The right to privacy concerning the youth's personal and confidential
20 information.
ACT No. 351
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1 (2) The right to attend all court hearings regarding the care to be
2 received.
3 (3) The right to be in a stable and supportive setting that is free from
4 neglect and emotional, verbal, physical, and sexual abuse or exploitation, and
5 that is the least restrictive to meet the youth's needs.
6 (4) The right to participate in all case plan meetings, to include
7 supportive adults of the youth's choice to be on the planning team, and to be
8 provided a copy of the youth's case plan every six months or whenever changes
9 are made to the plan.
10 (5) The right to have the youth's medical and mental health needs met
11 on a regular and timely basis.
12 (6) The right to be provided adequate trauma-based counseling and
13 therapeutic services throughout the youth's time in foster care.
14 (7) The right to be provided the contact information of the youth's
15 caseworker, attorney, and CASA volunteer, and to attend meetings with them
16 on a regular basis.
17 (8) The right to have access to a telephone to talk to or visit with
18 approved friends and relatives, including siblings, at least once a month.
19 (9) The right to access materials necessary for school and to further the
20 youth's education, including access to a computer or other electronic devices
21 and to the internet when needed to complete assignments, the right to receive
22 tutoring services, and the right to a access information regarding college
23 admissions.
24 (10) The right to access information regarding testing accommodations
25 for any learning or developmental disability or special health need.
26 (11) The right to be involved in extracurricular activities, including
27 school clubs, dances, field trips, and sports teams, and to be provided with
28 supplies and uniforms required for team participation.
29 (12) The right to remain in the youth's school of origin.
30 (13) The right to attend a driver's education class.
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1 (14) The right to obtain employment and transportation to employment
2 within the vicinity of foster care placement.
3 (15) The right to refuse involvement in religious-based activities and the
4 right to continue the youth's cultural, religious, and ethnic traditions and belief
5 systems.
6 (16) The right to be free from discrimination of any kind on the basis of
7 the youth's race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion,
8 national, ethnic, or social origin, property, disability, birth, or other status.
9 (17) The right to attend and have transportation to services, events, and
10 activities provided by the Independent Living Skills Program within the youth's
11 region, the right to receive timely notification of upcoming youth advocacy and
12 engagement services in the youth's region, and the right to be provided with the
13 entire amount of the monthly allowance as outlined in department policy.
14 (18) The right to express and voice the youth's needs, concerns, and
15 desires about foster care.
16 Section 2. This Act shall be known and may be cited as "The Louisiana Elite
17 Advocacy Force Act" or "The LEAF Act".
18 Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
19 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
20 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
21 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
22 effective on the day following such approval.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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