Under existing law, the State Department of Human Resources must ensure that foster parents have certain rights. This bill would provide that foster parents have a right to be heard at any hearings concerning the foster child and the right to submit a written report to the court on the status and welfare of the foster child. This bill would provide that foster parents of foster children who have been in the care of the department for at least 15 months may intervene as a matter of right in any proceeding relating to the foster child. This bill would also provide that the court may deny the motion to intervene only if the court issues findings articulating why the intervention would be a detriment to the best interests of the child and would interfere with the child's right to a timely and permanent resolution of his or her case.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 38-12A-2, 38-12A-2