HB2527 - Rights of Children in Foster Care

• Establishes a new statute defining rights of children in foster care, replacing previous "guiding principles" language in Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 587A.

• Guarantees fundamental rights including safe housing free from abuse, adequate food/shelter/clothing, medical/dental/mental health care, and health insurance enrollment with comprehensive assessment within 45 days of placement.

• Ensures children maintain contact with parents and siblings unless prohibited by court order or deemed unsafe, prohibits withholding visitation as punishment, and requires written reporting or court motion if visits are denied.

• Provides children age 14+ the right to participate in case planning, receive annual free credit reports with interpretation assistance, and guarantees children age 17 access to personal records including birth certificates, Social Security cards, medical records, and state identification before aging out of care.

• Establishes additional protections including school enrollment/stability, extracurricular activity participation, religious freedom, personal bank accounts, life skills training (age 12+), and regular contact with social workers, court-appointed advocates, and judges; allows family court to issue orders enforcing these rights.