HB 266 - Foster Care Bill of Rights

• Establishes a legislative finding enumerating 15 categories of rights for children in Department of Health and Social Services custody, including rights to respectful treatment, normal functioning, safe environments, health services, education, privacy, and court participation.

• Guarantees children the right to participate in case planning, receive permanent placement, maintain family contact, access records, file grievances, and contact the ombudsman or elected officials regarding their cases.

• Provides children aged 16 and older the right to live in unlicensed transitional living settings, and ensures the department continues seeking adoptive or guardianship homes until age 21.

• Establishes 11 categories of rights for foster parents, including treatment as professional team members, participation in placement decisions, receipt of child information, privacy regarding family contact, grievance procedures, and timely financial reimbursement.

• Guarantees foster parents the right to training on children's specific needs, free exercise of religion in their homes while respecting birth family practices, and full information disclosure if pursuing adoption.