SB 501

Introduction

This bill makes various changes relating to disclosure of the identity of a foster

parent or treatment foster parent of a child; the rights of a foster parent, treatment

foster parent, or other physical custodian of a child on removal of the child from the

person's home, whether that removal is through a change in placement or an agency

decision or order; and placement of a child for adoption with a foster parent,

treatment foster parent, or other physical custodian of the child.

Disclosure of identity

Under current law, a dispositional order of the court assigned to exercise

jurisdiction under the Children's Code (juvenile court) that places a child outside the

home must include the name of the place or facility where the child shall be cared

for, except that the juvenile court may order the name and address of a foster parent

or treatment foster parent to be withheld from a child's parent or guardian if the

juvenile court finds that disclosure of that information would result in imminent

danger to the child, the foster parent, or the treatment foster parent.

This bill provides that the name, other than the first name, and address of a

person licensed to operate a foster home or treatment foster home may not be

disclosed to the parent or guardian of a child placed in the home or to any other adult

relative of the child without the written consent of the licensee.

Rights on removal of child

Change in placement.

Under current law, a child who is subject to a

dispositional order of the juvenile court, the child's parent, guardian, or legal

custodian, or any agency bound by the dispositional order may request a change in

placement of the child. Currently, if the agency requests the change in placement,

the agency must provide notice to the child, the child's parent, guardian, and legal

custodian, and the child's foster parent, treatment foster parent, or other physical

custodian stating the reasons for the change in placement, why the new placement

is preferable to the current placement, and how the new placement satisfies the

objectives of the child's treatment plan. A person who receives notice of such a change

in placement may obtain a hearing on the change in placement by filing an objection

to the change in placement.

Current law provides a slightly different procedure for when the child or the

child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian requests a change in placement. In that

case, the notice must state what new information affects the advisability of the

current placement and a hearing must be held unless all parties waive their

objections to the change in placement.

Under either procedure, if a hearing is held and the change in placement would

remove the child from a foster home or treatment foster home or from the home of

another physical custodian, the juvenile court must give the foster parent, treatment