This bill proposes to amend current statutes regarding the placement of children in foster care by explicitly prohibiting 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. The new language clarifies that this prohibition applies only if the foster home or kinship foster care parent is licensed and qualified for the placement.

Additionally, the bill updates the existing language in the statutes to ensure consistency in the application of this rule to both foster homes and kinship foster care homes. The current law remains unchanged in other respects, but the specific insertion of this prohibition aims to enhance the rights of children and families in the foster care system by preventing discrimination based on vaccination status.

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