H.B. 346 Enrolled

             1     

FOSTER CHILDREN AMENDMENTS

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Johnny Anderson

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Allen M. Christensen

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill enacts provisions related to normalizing the life of a child in state custody.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    defines terms;
             13          .    requires the Division of Child and Family Services (the division) to make efforts to
             14      normalize the life of a child in the division's custody and to empower a caregiver to
             15      approve or disapprove a child's participation in activities based on the caregiver's
             16      own assessment using a reasonable and prudent parent standard, without prior
             17      approval of the division;
             18          .    requires the division to verify that private agencies providing out-of-home
             19      placement under contract with the division promote and protect the ability of a child
             20      to participate in age-appropriate activities; and
             21          .    provides that a caregiver is not liable for harm caused to a child in an out-of-home
             22      placement, if the child participates in an activity approved by the caregiver,
             23      provided that the caregiver has acted in accordance with a reasonable and prudent
             24      parent standard.
             25      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             26          None
             27      Other Special Clauses:
             28          This bill provides an immediate effective date.
             29      Utah Code Sections Affected:


             30      ENACTS:
             31           62A-4a-210 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             32           62A-4a-211 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             33           62A-4a-212 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             34     
             35      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             36          Section 1. Section 62A-4a-210 is enacted to read:
             37          62A-4a-210. Definitions.
             38          As used in this part:
             39          (1) "Activity" means an extracurricular, enrichment, or social activity.
             40          (2) "Age-appropriate" means a type of activity that is generally accepted as suitable for
             41      a child of the same age or level of maturity, based on the development of cognitive, emotional,
             42      physical, and behavioral capacity that is typical for the child's age or age group.
             43          (3) "Caregiver" means a person with whom a child is placed in an out-of-home
             44      placement.
             45          (4) "Division" means the Division of Child and Family Services.
             46          (5) "Out-of-home placement" means the placement of a child in the division's custody
             47      outside of the child's home, including placement in a foster home, a residential treatment
             48      program, proctor care, or with kin.
             49          (6) "Reasonable and prudent parent standard" means the standard characterized by
             50      careful and sensible parental decisions to maintain a child's health, safety, and best interest
             51      while at the same time encouraging the child's emotional and developmental growth.
             52          Section 2. Section 62A-4a-211 is enacted to read:
             53          62A-4a-211. Division responsibilities -- Normalizing lives of children.
             54          (1) A child who comes into care under this chapter is entitled to participate in
             55      age-appropriate activities for the child's emotional well-being and development of valuable
             56      life-coping skills.
             57          (2) The division shall make efforts to normalize the lives of children in the division's


             58      custody and to empower a caregiver to approve or disapprove a child's participation in
             59      activities based on the caregiver's own assessment using a reasonable and prudent parent
             60      standard, without prior approval of the division.
             61          (3) The division shall allow a caregiver to make important decisions, similar to the
             62      decisions that a parent is entitled to make, regarding the child's participation in activities.
             63          Section 3. Section 62A-4a-212 is enacted to read:
             64          62A-4a-212. Requirements for decision making -- Rulemaking authority.
             65          (1) (a) A caregiver shall use a reasonable and prudent parent standard in determining
             66      whether to permit a child to participate in an activity.
             67          (b) A caregiver shall consider:
             68          (i) the child's age, maturity, and developmental level to maintain the overall health and
             69      safety of the child;
             70          (ii) potential risk factors and the appropriateness of the activity;
             71          (iii) the best interest of the child based on the caregiver's knowledge of the child;
             72          (iv) the importance of encouraging the child's emotional and developmental growth;
             73          (v) the importance of providing the child with the most family-like living experience
             74      possible; and
             75          (vi) the behavioral history of the child and the child's ability to safely participate in the
             76      proposed activity.
             77          (c) The division shall verify that private agencies providing out-of-home placement
             78      under contract with the division:
             79          (i) promote and protect the ability of a child to participate in age-appropriate activities;
             80      and
             81          (ii) implement policies consistent with this section.
             82          (d) (i) A caregiver is not liable for harm caused to a child in an out-of-home placement
             83      if the child participates in an activity approved by the caregiver, when the caregiver has acted
             84      in accordance with a reasonable and prudent parent standard.
             85          (ii) This section does not remove or limit any existing liability protection afforded by


             86      statute.
             87          (2) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
             88      division shall adopt rules establishing the procedures for verifying that private agencies
             89      providing out-of-home placement under contract with the division comply with and promote
             90      this part.
             91          Section 4. Effective date.
             92          If approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, this bill takes effect
             93      upon approval by the governor, or the day following the constitutional time limit of Utah
             94      Constitution, Article VII, Section 8, without the governor's signature, or in the case of a veto,
             95      the date of veto override.


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