HB 584 — CHILDREN/FOSTER CARE: Provides relative to children in foster care (EN +$11,125 EX See Note)

HLSENROLLED 26RS-887 REENGROSSED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.

584 BY REPRESENTATIVES BOYD, TAYLOR, BAYHAM, BEAULLIEU, BERAULT, BILLINGS,BOUDREAUX,BRASS,BRYANT,BUTLER,CARLSON,CARRIER,BILLINGS, WILFORDBOUDREAUX,BRASS,BRYANT,BUTLER,CARLSON,CARRIER,WILFORD CARTER, CHASSION, COX, DESHOTEL, DEWITT, DICKERSON, FISHER, FREEMAN,FREEMAN,FREIBERG, FREIBERG, GREEN, HEBERT, DANA HENRY,HENRY,ILLG,JACKSON, ILLG, JACKSON, JORDAN, KNOX, LACOMBE, LAFLEUR, JACOB LANDRY, MANDIE LANDRY, TERRY LANDRY, LARVADAIN, LYONS, MARCELLE, MARTINEZ,MOORE,MURRAY,NEWELL,PHELPS,SCHLEGEL,WALTERS,MARTINEZ, WYBLE,MOORE, MURRAY, NEWELL, PHELPS, SCHLEGEL, TAYLOR, WALTERS,WYBLE,ANDYOUNGANDSENATORSBOUDREAUX,CLOUD, HODGES, LUNEAU, AND YOUNGMCMATH CHILDREN/FOSTERAN CARE:ACT To amend and reenact the headingof Subpart D-1A of Part II of Chapter 3 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 and R.S.

Provides46:286.16(A), relative(B), to(C)(introductory childrenparagraph), in(1), foster(3) carethrough AN(7), ACT(9), To(12), amendand (15) through (18) and reenactto enact R.S.

46:286.16,46:286.16(C)(19) through (21), relative to children in foster care, to provide for the privilegesrights of children in foster care;

to provide for the right to safetransportation;

to provide fortheright to familyorother suitable individual placement when available;

to provide for the responsibilitiesresponsibilitiesoflocalsocialservicesdistricts;toprovideforresponsibilitiesofhost offamilies; local social services districts;

to provide for responsibilities of host families;

The heading of Subpart D-1A of Part II of Chapter 3 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 and R.S.

46:286.1646:286.16(A), is(B), (C)(introductoryparagraph), (1), (3) through (7), (9), (12), and (15) through (18) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:follows and R.S.

SUBPART46:286.16(C)(19) D-1A.through (21) are herebyenacted to read as follows:

PRIVILEGESPage OF1 FOSTERof YOUTH'S4 BILLCODING: OF RIGHTS YOUTH §286.16.

Wordsinstruckthroughtypearedeletionsfromexistinglaw;wordsunderscored are additions.

HB NO.

584 ENROLLED SUBPART D-1A.

FOSTER YOUTH'S CHILDREN'S BILL OF RIGHTS §286.16.

This Subpart shall be cited as the "Privileges"Foster of Foster Youth's Children's Bill of RightsRights". Youth".

The Department of Children and Family Services shall implement, promote, and support the rights privileges contained in this Section through the Pagepolicies 1and practices of 5the CODING:department as applied to youth ages fourteen children from birth through age eighteen who are in foster care in this state.

Wordsinstruckthroughtypearedeletionsfromexistinglaw;wordsunderscored are additions.

HLS 26RS-887 REENGROSSED HB NO.

584 policies and practices of the department as applied to youth ages fourteen zero through eighteen who are in foster care in this state.

Youth ages fourteen zeroChildren from birth through age eighteen in foster care in this state are entitled to shall receive the following rights privileges granted to them when it is determined by the department to be age appropriate and in the best interest of the youth:youth child:

(1) The right privilege to privacy concerning the youth's child's personal and confidential information.

(2)* * * (3) The right privilege to attendbeinastableandsupportive allsetting courtthat hearingsis regardingfreefrom theneglect careandemotional,verbal,physical,andsexualabuseorexploitation,andthatistheleast restrictive to bemeet received.the youth's child's needs.

(3)(4) The right privilege to beparticipate in aall stablecase andplan supportivemeetings, settingto thatinclude issupportive freeadults fromof neglectthe andyouth's emotional,child's verbal,choice physical,to andbe sexualon abusethe orplanning exploitation,team, and thatto isbe theprovided leasta restrictivecopyoftheyouth'schild'scaseplaneverysixmonthsorwheneverchangesaremade to meet the youth'splan. needs.

(4)(5)Theright Thetohavetheyouth's rightchild's privilegemedical toand participatementalhealthneedsmet inon all case plan meetings, to include supportiveadultsoftheyouth'schoicetobeontheplanningteam,andtobeprovided a copyregular ofand thetimely youth'sbasis. case plan every six months or whenever changes are made to the plan.

(5)(6) The right privilege to havebe theprovided youth'sadequate medicaltrauma-based counseling and mentaltherapeutic healthservices needsthroughout metthe onyouth's achild's regulartime andin timelyfoster basis.care.

(6)(7) Therightprivilegetobeprovidedadequatetrauma-basedcounselingandThe therapeuticright servicesto throughoutbe provided the contact information of the youth's timechild's incaseworker, fosterattorney, care.and CASA volunteer, and to attend meetings with them on a regular basis.

(7)* The* right* privilegePage to2 be provided the contact information of the4 youth'sCODING: caseworker, attorney, and CASA volunteer, and to attend meetings with them on a regular basis.

(8) The right privilege to have access to a telephone to talk to or visit with approved friends and relatives, including siblings, at least once a month.

(9) Therightprivilegetoaccessmaterialsnecessaryforschoolandtofurther theyouth'seducation,includingaccessto acomputerorotherelectronicdevicesand to the internet when needed to complete assignments, the right privilege to receive Page 2 of 5 CODING:

HLS 26RS-887 REENGROSSED HB NO.

584 ENROLLED (9) The right to access materials necessary for school and to further the youth's child's education, including access to a computer or other electronicdevices and to the internet when needed to complete assignments, the right to receive tutoring services, and the right privilege to access information regarding college admissions.

(10)* * * (12) The right privilege to accessremain informationin regardingthe testingyouth's accommodationsforanylearningordevelopmentaldisabilityorspecialhealthneed.child's school of origin.

(11)* Therightprivilegetobeinvolvedinextracurricularactivities,including* school* clubs,(15) dances,The fieldright trips, and sports teams, and to berefuse providedinvolvement within suppliesreligious-based activities and uniformsthe requiredrighttocontinuetheyouth'schild'scultural,religious,andethnictraditionsandbelief forsystems. team participation.

(12)(16) The right privilege to remainbe infree thefrom youth'sdiscrimination schoolof anykind on the basis of origin.the youth'schild'srace,color,sex,language,religion,politicalorotheropinion,national, ethnic, or social origin, property, disability, birth, or other status.

(13)(17) The right privilege to attend aand driver'shave educationtransportation class.to services, events, and activities provided by the Independent Living Skills Program within the youth's child's region, the right to receive timely notification of upcoming youth child advocacy and engagement services in the youth's child's region, and the right to be providedwith theentireamountofthemonthlyallowanceasoutlined indepartment policy.

(14)(18) The right privilege to obtainexpress employment and transportationvoice tothe employmentyouth's withinchild's theneeds, vicinityconcerns, ofand fosterdesires careabout placement.foster care.

(15)(19)(a) The right privilegeto proper luggage that is considered to refusebe involvementdurable and reusable containers that are in religious-basednew activitiesor andtherightprivilegetocontinuetheyouth'scultural,religious,andethnictraditionslike-new andcondition beliefto systems.move between foster homes to ensure the child's dignityand safety.

(16)Luggage Theincludes rightbackpacks, privilegeboxes, toduffel bebags, free from discrimination of any kind on the basis of the youth's race, color, sex, language, religion, political or othersuitcases. opinion, national, ethnic, or social origin, property, disability, birth, or other status.