HB 6403 Summary

• Creates a Children in Care Bill of Rights and Expectations effective July 1, 2019, for children placed in out-of-home care by the Commissioner of Children and Families, guaranteeing rights including maintaining identity and religion, visitation with family, placement in home community, participation in case planning, regular caseworker contact, and educational support.

• Establishes expectations for guardians of children in out-of-home care, including maintaining healthy relationships, setting appropriate boundaries, building life skills, assisting with legal documents, supporting extracurricular activities, applying equal household rules to all children, participating in therapy, completing foster parent training, and respecting age-appropriate privacy.

• Requires caseworkers to meet privately with children annually and upon new placements to provide a copy of the Children in Care Bill of Rights and Expectations, review it with the child, and explain avenues for reporting violations to supervisors, regional offices, the ombudsman, or child advocate.

• Requires the Commissioner of Children and Families to work with Youth Advisory Boards in each regional office to draft a Sibling Bill of Rights by October 1, 2013, addressing protection of sibling relationships separated due to department intervention, with caseworkers required to review it with children starting January 1, 2020.