HB 24-1017: Bill of Rights for Foster Youth

• Establishes a comprehensive statutory bill of rights for approximately 3,600 children and youth in Colorado foster care, addressing documented disparities including 30% high school graduation rates compared to 82% statewide.

• Guarantees nine categories of rights including fair and equal access without discrimination, appropriate placement and care, access to legal representation, privacy protections, education with school stability presumption, basic essentials, health care with medication protections, participation in legal proceedings, and necessities for self-sufficiency during transition to adulthood.

• Requires the Office of the Child's Representative to develop and distribute a written notice of rights to youth five years and older at initial placement, each placement change, and annually, in the child's primary language.

• Allows juvenile courts to enforce these rights and limit them only upon clear and convincing evidence of extraordinary circumstances necessary for the child's safety.

• Lowers the age for free annual credit reports and identity theft protections from 16 to 14 years old for youth in foster care.