Oklahoma 2024 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SB533 Compare Versions

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4		-	An Act
5		-	ENROLLED SENATE
	29	+	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION
	30	+
	31	+	STATE OF OKLAHOMA
	32	+
	33	+	1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
	34	+
	35	+	ENGROSSED SENATE
6	36		BILL NO. 533 By: Rosino, Garvin, Pederson,
7	37		and Rogers of the Senate
8	38
9	39		and
10	40
11		-	Lawson, Boles, Hill ~~and~~
12		-	~~Stark of~~ the House
	41	+	Lawson, Boles, and Hill of
	42	+	the House
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17	47		An Act relating to children; amending 10A O.S. 2021,
18	48		Section 1-9-119, which relates to statement of foster
19	49		parent’s rights; expanding rights relating to
20	50		grievances; amending 10A O.S. 2021, Section 1 -9-120,
21	51		which relates to grievance procedures for foster
22	52		parents; broadening applicability of certain
23	53		recordkeeping requirement; and providing an effective
24	54		date.
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29		-	SUBJECT: Rights relating to children
30		-
31	59		BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
32		-
33	60		SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 10A O.S. 2021, Section 1 -9-119, is
34	61		amended to read as follow s:
35		-
36	62		Section 1-9-119. A. A statement of foster parent ’s rights
37	63		shall be given to every foster p arent annually and shall include,
38	64		but not be limited to, the right to:
39		-
40	65		1. Be treated with dignity, respect, and consideration as a
41	66		professional member of the ch ild welfare team;
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43	94		2. Be notified of and be given appropriate, o ngoing education
44	95		and continuing education and training to develop and enhance foster
45	96		parenting skills;
46		-
47		-
48		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 533 Page 2
49	97		3. Be informed about ways to contact the state agency or the
50	98		child-placing agency in ord er to receive information and assistance
51	99		to access supportive se rvices for any child in the fos ter parent’s
52	100		care;
53		-
54	101		4. Receive timely financial reimbursement for providing foster
55	102		care services;
56		-
57	103		5. Be notified of any costs or expenses for which the foster
58	104		parent may be eligible for reimbursement;
59		-
60	105		6. Be provided a clear , written explanation of the in dividual
61	106		treatment and service plan concerning the child in the foster
62	107		parent’s home, listing components of the plan pursuant to the
63	108		provisions of the Oklahoma C hildren’s Code;
64		-
65	109		7. Receive, at any time during which a child is placed with the
66	110		foster parent, additional or necessary information that is relevant
67	111		to the care of the child;
68		-
69	112		8. Be notified of scheduled review meetings, per manency
70	113		planning meetings, famil y team meetings and special staffing
71	114		concerns for any foster chi ld placed in the foster parent ’s home in
72	115		order to actively participate in the case planning and decision -
73	116		making process regarding the child;
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75	144		9. Provide input concerning the plan of services f or the child
76	145		and to have that input be given full consideration in the same
77	146		manner as information presented by any other professional on the
78	147		team;
79		-
80	148		10. Communicate with other foster par ents in order to share
81	149		information regarding the foster child. In part icular, receive any
82	150		information concerning the number of times a foster child has been
83	151		moved and the reasons why, and the names and telephone numbers of
84	152		the previous foster parent if th e previous foster parent has
85	153		authorized such release;
86		-
87	154		11. Communicate with other professionals who work with the
88	155		foster child within t he context of the team includin g, but not
89	156		limited to, therapists, physicians, and teachers;
90		-
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92		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 533 Page 3
93	157		12. Be given, in a timely an d consistent manner, any
94	158		information regarding the child and the child ’s family which is
95	159		pertinent to the care and needs of the child a nd to the making of a
96	160		permanency plan for the child. Disclosure of information shall be
97	161		limited to that information whic h is authorized by the provisions of
98	162		Chapter VI Chapter 6 of the Oklahoma Children’s Code for foster
99	163		parents;
100		-
101	164		13. Be given reasonable notice of any change in or addi tion to
102	165		the services provided to the child pursuant to the child ’s
103	166		individual treatment and service plan;
	167	+	14. a. Be given written notice of :
104	168
105		-	14. a. Be given written notice of :
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107	195		(1) plans to terminate the placement of the child
108	196		with the foster parent pursuant t o Section 1-4-
109	197		805 of this title, and
110		-
111	198		(2) the reasons for the changes or termination in
112	199		placement.
113		-
114	200		b. The notice shall be waived only in emergency cases
115	201		pursuant to Section 1-4-805 of this title;
116		-
117	202		15. Be notified by the applicable state agency in a timely a nd
118	203		complete manner of all court hearings, including notice of the date
119	204		and time of any court hearing, the name of the judge or heari ng
120	205		officer hearing the case, the locati on of the hearing, and the court
121	206		docket number of the case;
122		-
123	207		16. Be informed of decis ions made by the court, the sta te
124	208		agency or the child-placing agency concerning the child;
125		-
126	209		17. Be considered as a preferred placeme nt option when a foster
127	210		child who was formerly placed with the foster parent is to reenter
128	211		foster care at the same level and type of care, if that placemen t is
129	212		consistent with the best interest of the child and other children in
130	213		the home of the foster pare nt;
131		-
132	214		18. Be provided a fair, timely, an d impartial investigation of
133	215		complaints concerning the certification of the foster pa rent;
134		-
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136		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 533 Page 4
137	216		19. Be provided the oppo rtunity to request and receive a fair
138	217		and impartial hearing regarding decisions that affect certifica tion
139	218		retention or placement of children in the home;
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141	246		20. Be allowed the right to exercise parental substitute
142	247		authority;
143		-
144	248		21. Have timely access to the ap peals process of the state
145	249		agency and child placement agency and the right to be free from acts
146	250		of harassment and retaliation by any other p arty when exercising the
147	251		right to appeal;
148		-
149	252		22. Be given the number of the statewide t oll-free Foster
150	253		Parent Hotline;
151		-
152	254		23. File a grievance and be informed of the process for filing
153	255		a grievance. Grievances shall be confidential and the foster parent
154	256		has the right to be free from acts of harassment and ret aliation by
155	257		any other party when ex ercising the right to file a gr ievance; and
156		-
157	258		24. Receive a copy of the liability insurance policy the
158	259		Department of Human Services maintains for every Department -
159	260		contracted foster home placement.
160		-
161	261		B. The Department of Human Services and a child -placing agency
162	262		under contract with the Dep artment shall be responsible for
163	263		implementing this section.
164		-
165	264		C. Nothing in this section shall be construed to create a
166	265		private right of action or claim on the part of any individual, the
167	266		Department, the Office of Juvenile Aff airs, or any child-placing
168	267		agency.
169		-
170	268		SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 10A O.S. 2021, Section 1 -9-120, is
171	269		amended to read as follows:
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173	297		Section 1-9-120. A. The Office of Client Adv ocacy and child-
174	298		placing agencies shall each establish grievance procedures for
175	299		foster parents with whom the Department of Human Services or child -
176	300		placing agencies contract . The Office of Client Ad vocacy shall work
177	301		with the Office of Juvenile System Oversi ght to track foster parent
178		-
179		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 533 Page 5
180	302		complaints through the grievance proc edures and ensure a resolution
181	303		of the complaint.
182		-
183	304		B. The procedures established shall contain the following
184	305		minimum requirements:
185		-
186	306		1. Resolution of disputes with foster parents shall be
187	307		accomplished quickly, informally and at the lowest possible level,
188	308		but shall provide for access to im partial arbitration by management
189	309		level personnel within the central office;
190		-
191	310		2. Prompt resolution of grievances no more than sixty (60) days
192	311		after receipt of the grievance or complaint; and
193		-
194	312		3. Notification to all foster par ents upon placement of a child
195	313		about the grievance procedures and how to file a complaint.
196		-
197	314		C. The Office of Client Advocacy and each child-placing agency
198	315		shall designate one employee at the c entral office to receive and
199	316		process foster care grievances rece ived by the Office of Juvenile
200	317		System Oversight.
201		-
202	318		D. The Office of Client Advocacy and each child-placing agency
203	319		shall maintain records of each grievance filed as well as summary
204	320		information about the number, nature and outcome of all grievances
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205	348		filed. The Office of Client Advocacy and the Office of Juvenile
206	349		System Oversight shall compile an annual report for the Oklahoma
207	350		Legislature that detail s the number of complaints received, the
208	351		number of complaints resolved, the nature of the complaints and any
209	352		other information requested by the Legislature. Agencies The Office
210	353		of Client Advocacy and child-placing agencies shall keep records of
211	354		grievances separate and apart from other foster parent files. A
212	355		foster parent or a former foster parent shall have a right of access
213	356		to the record of grievances such person filed after the procedure
214	357		has been completed.
215		-
216	358		E. 1. Each foster parent shall have the right, without fea r of
217	359		reprisal or discrimination, to present grievances with respect to
218	360		the providing of foster care services.
219		-
220	361		2. The Department of Human Services shall promptly initiate a
221	362		plan of corrective discipline including, but not limited to,
222		-
223		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 533 Page 6
224	363		dismissal of any Depar tment employee or cancellation or nonrenewal
225	364		of the contract of a child -placing agency determined b y the state
226	365		agency, through an investigation to have retaliated or discriminated
227	366		against a foster parent who has:
228		-
229	367		a. filed a grievance pursuant to the provis ions of this
230	368		section,
231		-
232	369		b. provided information to any official or Department
233	370		employee, or
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235	398		c. testified, assisted, or otherwi se participated in an
236	399		investigation, proceeding or hearing against the
237	400		Department or the child -placing agency.
238		-
239	401		3. The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to
240	402		include any complaint by the foster parent resulting from an
241	403		administrative, civi l or criminal action taken by the employee or
242	404		child-placing agency for violations of law or rules, or contract
243	405		provisions by the fost er parent.
244		-
245	406		SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2023.
246	407
247		-
248		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 533 Page 7
249		-	Passed the Senate the 28th day of February, 2023.
250		-
251		-
252		-
253		-	Presiding Officer of the Senate
254		-
255		-
256		-	Passed the House of Representatives the 17th day of April, 2023.
257		-
258		-
259		-
260		-	Presiding Officer of the House
261		-	of Representatives
262		-
263		-	OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
264		-	Received by the Office of the Governor this _______ _____________
265		-	day of _________________ __, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
266		-	By: _______________________________ __
267		-	Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _____ ____
268		-	day of _________________ __, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
269		-
270		-	_________________________________
271		-	Governor of the State of Oklahoma
272		-
273		-
274		-	OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
275		-	Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this _______ ___
276		-	day of __________________, 20 _______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
277		-	By: _______________________________ __
	408	+	COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILY
	409	+	SERVICES, dated 04/06/2023 - DO PASS, As Coauthored.