Assembly Bill 328 aims to enhance the process of providing permanency plans for children involved in child or juvenile protection proceedings by allowing agencies to share these plans with out-of-home care providers prior to permanency reviews or hearings. The bill amends existing statutes to create new provisions that permit the agency responsible for the permanency plan to provide a copy of the plan and any written comments to the child's out-of-home care provider, which includes foster parents, guardians, and operators of group homes. Importantly, any confidential information that must be protected under federal or state law will be redacted before sharing the plan.

Additionally, the bill amends sections of current law to clarify the circumstances under which agencies can disclose information about individuals in their care. Specifically, it modifies the language in sections 48.78 and 938.78 to include the new provisions for sharing permanency plans with out-of-home care providers. This legislative change is intended to improve communication and collaboration among all parties involved in a child's care, ultimately supporting better outcomes for children in the system.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 48.78(2)(a), 48.78, 938.78(2)(a), 938.78