S.2659/H.4599 (Original Sponsors: Sen. Comerford; Rep. Finn)
Codifies and creates rights for children in care, such as promoting connection to family, community, and identity, prioritizing families first with placements, and promoting siblings’ connections. (Leads include CLM)
- The bill provides protections for children in foster care in six categories:
- Safety and security - makes provisions to ensure children are placed in nurturing and developmentally appropriate environments.
- Connections to family, community, and identity - places children according to their familial background, and gender, ethnic, and racial identities.
- Health care and accessibility - provides access to all types of health care including behavioral health and gender-affirming care and requires placements to be accessible for children with disabilities.
- Education, employment, and social connections - gives children the right to education stability and to uphold their identity through their school.
- Resources and supports - placements for children are to make reasonable reunification efforts and maintain contact with their caseworker, attorney, and family members.
- Transition age youth - begins transition planning at age 14 and makes youth aware of housing availability until age 23.
STATUS: Senate bill was sent to the Committee on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently (after a favorable reporting from the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities) and House bill was sent to House Ways and Means (after a favorable reporting from the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities)
SPONSORS
House Petitioners aka co-sponsors: Finn, Higgins, Worrell, Holmes, Sangiolo, Sena
Senate co-sponsors: Comerford, Collins, Edwards