SB 1682 Summary

• Establishes a four-tier danger classification system (Tiers 2-5) for foster care placements based on specific risk factors including allegations of abuse, criminal convictions, missing children incidents, and registered sex offender status.

• Requires mandatory removal of foster children from Tier 5 placements within 24 hours and revocation of foster home licenses; Tier 4 placements within 48 hours; Tier 3 placements require removal of alleged victims and private interviews with children at the placement.

• Creates mandatory placement information files documenting all abuse allegations, criminal history, medical evidence, hotline calls, and other safety indicators that cannot be redacted or deleted.

• Mandates provision of basic cell phones to foster children over age 3 with speed dial contacts for social workers, CASA, biological parents, and hotlines; failure to provide phone is a class 1 misdemeanor.

• Establishes criminal penalties for child safety workers ranging from class 2-4 felonies for failing to remove children from dangerous placements or add required information to placement files within required timeframes.