CS/HB 215 - Quality Parenting for Children in Foster Care Act

• Creates section 39.4091 to authorize caregivers of children in out-of-home care to approve participation in age-appropriate extracurricular, enrichment, and social activities using a "reasonable and prudent parent standard" without requiring prior approval from the department, caseworker, or court.

• Defines "reasonable and prudent parent standard" as careful and sensible parental decisions that maintain the child's health, safety, and best interests while encouraging emotional and developmental growth.

• Requires caregivers to consider the child's age, maturity, developmental level, potential risk factors, best interests, emotional growth needs, family-like living experience, and behavioral history when making activity decisions.

• Provides liability protection for caregivers who approve activities under the reasonable and prudent parent standard and requires the Department of Children and Families to verify that private agencies have consistent policies.

• Amends section 39.522 to clarify reunification standards and amends section 409.1451 to apply the reasonable and prudent parent standard to independent living transition services with written plans reviewed quarterly and incorporated into judicial social study reports.

• Takes effect July 1, 2013.