FOSTER CHILDREN-BILL OF RIGHTS House SponsorsRep. Litesa E. Wallace-Mary E. Flowers-Monique D. Davis-Anna Moeller-Sara Feigenholtz, Esther Golar, Stephanie A. Kifowit, Deb Conroy, Katherine Cloonen, Frances Ann Hurley, Sue Scherer, Linda Chapa LaVia, Fred Crespo, Jay Hoffman, Michelle Mussman, Kelly M. Cassidy, Cynthia Soto, Arthur Turner, Jack D. Franks, Carol Ammons, Eddie Lee Jackson, Sr. and Al Riley Senate Sponsors(Sen. Steve Stadelman-Julie A. Morrison-Patricia Van Pelt-Jacqueline Y. Collins-Michael Noland and Mattie Hunter) 8/11/2015HousePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 99-0344 New Act Creates the Foster Children's Bill of Rights Act. Provides that it is the policy of this State that every child and adult in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services who is placed in foster care shall have certain rights, including the right to: (i) live in a safe, healthy, and comfortable home where he or she is treated with respect; (ii) be free from physical, sexual, emotional, or other abuse, or corporal punishment; (iii) receive adequate and healthy food, adequate clothing, and, for youth in group homes, an allowance; (iv) receive medical, dental, vision, and mental health services; (v) be free of the administration of medication or chemical substances, unless authorized by a physician; (vi) contact family members, unless prohibited by court order, and social workers, attorneys, foster youth advocates, and other specified persons; (vii) contact the Advocacy Office for Children and Families established under the Children and Family Services Act or the Department of Children and Family Services' Office of the Inspector General regarding violations of rights, speak to representatives of these offices confidentially, and be free from threats or punishment for making complaints; (viii) attend court hearings and speak to the judge; (ix) review his or her own case plan and plan for permanent placement, and receive information about his or her out-of-home placement and case plan, including being told of changes to the case plan; and (x) receive a copy of the Act and have it fully explained to him or her when he or she is placed in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be interpreted to require a foster care provider to take any action that would impair the health and safety of children in out-of-home placement.House Committee Amendment No. 1 Expands the list of rights under the Foster Children's Bill of Rights to include the right to have caregivers and child welfare personnel who have received sensitivity training and instruction on matters concerning race and ethnicity.House Floor Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill, as amended by House Amendment No. 1, and makes the following change: Provides that every child or adult in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services shall have the right to receive a copy of the Foster Children's Bill of Rights Act from and have it fully explained by the Department of Children and Family Services when the child or adult is placed in the care of the Department (rather than the right to receive a copy of the Act and have it fully explained to the child or adult when he or she is placed in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services).Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that every child and adult in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services who is placed in foster care shall have the right to (i) receive adequate and healthy food, adequate clothing, and for youth in group homes, residential treatment facilities, and foster homes, an allowance (rather than for youth in group homes, an allowance); (ii) to not be locked in a room, building, or facility licensed by the Department of Children and Family Services under the Child Care Act of 1969 and placed pursuant to a specified provision of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 (rather than to not be locked in a room, building, or facility licensed by the Department of Children and Family Services under the Child Care Act of 1969); and (iii) to have caregivers and child welfare personnel who have received sensitivity training and instruction on matters concerning race, ethnicity, national origin, color, ancestry, religion, mental and physical disability, and HIV status (rather than to have caregivers and child welfare personnel who have received sensitivity training and instruction on matters concerning race and ethnicity). 2/26/2015HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. Litesa E. Wallace 2/26/2015HouseFirst Reading 2/26/2015HouseReferred to Rules Committee 3/4/2015HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary E. Flowers 3/4/2015HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Monique D. Davis 3/10/2015HouseAssigned to Human Services Committee 3/12/2015HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Anna Moeller 3/12/2015HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Sara Feigenholtz 3/12/2015HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Esther Golar 3/18/2015HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Litesa E. Wallace 3/18/2015HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee 3/19/2015HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Human Services Committee 3/25/2015HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Human Services Committee; by Voice Vote 3/25/2015HouseDo Pass as Amended / Short Debate Human Services Committee; 013-000-000 3/25/2015HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate 3/26/2015HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit 3/26/2015HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Deb Conroy 3/26/2015HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Katherine Cloonen 3/26/2015HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Frances Ann Hurley 3/26/2015HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Sue Scherer 3/26/2015HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia 3/26/2015HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Fred Crespo 3/26/2015HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Jay Hoffman 4/7/2015HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Litesa E. Wallace 4/7/2015HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee 4/9/2015HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Michelle Mussman 4/13/2015HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to Human Services Committee 4/15/2015HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Human Services Committee; 012-000-000 4/15/2015HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate 4/15/2015HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted 4/15/2015HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate 4/15/2015HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy 4/15/2015HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Cynthia Soto 4/15/2015HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Arthur Turner 4/16/2015HouseThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 114-000-000 4/16/2015HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Jack D. Franks 4/16/2015HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Carol Ammons 4/16/2015HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Eddie Lee Jackson, Sr. 4/21/2015SenateArrive in Senate 4/21/2015SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of First Reading 4/21/2015SenateChief Senate Sponsor Sen. Steve Stadelman 4/21/2015SenateFirst Reading 4/21/2015SenateReferred to Assignments 4/22/2015SenateAdded as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Julie A. Morrison 4/29/2015SenateAssigned to Human Services 5/6/2015SenatePostponed - Human Services 5/6/2015SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Steve Stadelman 5/6/2015SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments 5/12/2015SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Human Services 5/12/2015SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted 5/13/2015SenateDo Pass as Amended Human Services; 005-000-000 5/13/2015SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 14, 2015 5/13/2015SenateAdded as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Patricia Van Pelt 5/18/2015SenateSecond Reading 5/18/2015SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 19, 2015 5/18/2015SenateAdded as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Jacqueline Y. Collins 5/19/2015SenateAdded as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Michael Noland 5/19/2015SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mattie Hunter 5/19/2015SenateThird Reading - Passed; 056-000-000 5/20/2015HouseArrived in House 5/20/2015HousePlaced on Calendar Order of Concurrence Senate Amendment(s) 1 5/21/2015HouseSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Litesa E. Wallace 5/21/2015HouseSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee 5/25/2015HouseSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Rules Referred to Human Services Committee 5/26/2015HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Al Riley 5/27/2015HouseSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Human Services Committee; 013-000-000 5/31/2015HouseSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 House Concurs 111-000-000 5/31/2015HouseHouse Concurs 5/31/2015HousePassed Both Houses 6/29/2015HouseSent to the Governor 8/11/2015HouseGovernor Approved 8/11/2015HouseEffective Date January 1, 2016 8/11/2015HousePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 99-0344