Senate Bill 2165, also known as House Bill 2350, amends Tennessee Code Annotated to enhance the rights and responsibilities of foster parents regarding the care of children in their custody. The bill introduces a new provision in Section 36-1-113, requiring the Department of Children’s Services to provide foster parents with a copy of any legal petition concerning a child in their care, provided the foster parent has been the child's physical placement for at least nine consecutive months. This requirement ensures that foster parents are kept informed about legal proceedings affecting the children they care for, with a specified timeline for the department to deliver this information.

Additionally, the bill modifies Section 37-2-415 by mandating that the department supply foster parents with comprehensive information about the child's background and health history in a timely manner. It emphasizes the ongoing provision of relevant information necessary for the child's care while also stipulating that any confidential information received, including termination of parental rights petitions, must be kept confidential by the foster parents unless disclosure is necessary to protect the child's health and welfare. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 36-1-113(e), 36-1-113, 37-2-415(a)(15), 37-2-415