If this bill were to become law, it would amend current statutes regarding the placement of children in foster care and kinship foster care. Specifically, it would insert language that prohibits the Department of Child Safety (DCS) from refusing to place a child in a foster home or with a kinship foster care parent based solely on the vaccination status of the child or other children in the home, provided that the foster home or kinship foster care parent is licensed and qualified for the placement. This new provision aims to ensure that vaccination status does not become a barrier to placing children in suitable homes.

Additionally, the bill would update the existing language in the statutes by clarifying that the same prohibition applies to both foster homes and kinship foster care homes. The current law already includes similar provisions for kinship foster care but would be expanded to explicitly include foster homes as well. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance the criteria for child placement by focusing on the qualifications of the caregivers rather than their vaccination status.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 8-514
House Engrossed Version: 8-514, 8-514.03, 8-514.01