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--- version:Bill Text+++ version:(document, no version)@@ -1,112 +1,34 @@-LEGISLATURE+ST+A+TEMENTOF-THE-STATE-OF-IDAHO-Sixty-eighth-Legislature-Second-Regular-Session---2026-IN-THE-HOUSE-OF-REPRESENTATIVES-HOUSE-BILL-NO.-724-BY-HEALTH-AND-WELFARE-COMMITTEE-AN-ACT-1-RELATING-TO-FOSTER-CARE;-PROVIDING-LEGISLATIVE-INTENT;-AMENDING-CHAPTER-2-12,-TITLE-39,-IDAHO-CODE,-BY-THE-ADDITION-OF-A-NEW-SECTION-39---1212,-3-IDAHO-CODE,-TO-ESTABLISH-PROVISIONS-REGARDING-FOSTER-CHILD-SAFETY;-AND-4-DECLARING-AN-EMERGENCY.-5-Be-It-Enacted-by-the-Legislature-of-the-State-of-Idaho:-6-SECTION-1.-LEGISLATIVE-FINDINGS-AND-INTENT.-The-Legislature-finds-that-7+PURPOSE+RS33422+/+H0724+This+legislation+establishes+a+Foster+Child+Safety+provision+in+Idaho+law+to+articulate+safety-related+rights+forchildren+placedinfostercare-are-among-the-most-vulnerable-individualsunderthe-8-care-andsupervisionofthe@@ -115,1098 +37,269 @@ofHealthand-Welfare.-It-is-9-the-intent-of-the-Legislature-to-ensure-their-safety,-health,-and-welfare-by-10-articulating-certain-protections-guaranteed-to-such-children.-It-is-further-1-1-the-intent-of-the-Legislature+W+elfare.+The+bill+af+firmsthat-this-act-govern-the-treatment-and-safety-12-ofchildren-while-in-the+in+fostercare-or-custody-of-the-state-and-not-be-construed-to-13-expand-general-government-authority-or-diminish-parental+haverights-beyond-what-14-is-necessary-to-ensure-the-safety,-health,-and-welfare-of-the-child.-15-SECTION-2.-That-Chapter-12,-Title-39,-Idaho-Code,-be,-and-the-same-is-16-hereby-amended-by-the-addition-thereto-of-a-NEW-SECTION-,-to-be-known-and-des---17-ignated-as-Section-39---1212,-Idaho-Code,-and-to-read-as-follows:-18-39---1212.-FOSTER-CHILD-SAFETY.-(1)-All-children-placed-in-foster-care-19-shall-have-the-following-safety---related-rights:-20-(a)-The-right-to-reside-in+toasafeandhealthy-environment;-21-(b)-The-freedom+placement+environment,+protectionfrom-physical,-sexual,-emotional,-or-other-abuse.-This-22-includes-the-freedom-to-be-placed-away-from-other-children,-siblings,-or-23-individuals-known-to-pose-a-credible-threat-of-physical-or-sexual-abuse-24-to-the-foster-child,-either-because-of-the-foster-child's-own-risk-fac---25-tors-or-those-of-the-other-children,-siblings,-or-individuals;-26-(c)-The-right-to+abuse,timely-and-appropriatemedicalassessments-and-foren---27-sic-testing+following+abuse+disclosures,+access+to+basic+necessities,+court+consideration+of+safetywhen-a-child-discloses-sexual-abuse-to-a-mandatory-reporter,-28-consistent-with-applicable-Idaho-law-and-mandatory-reporting-require---29-ments;-30-(d)-The-right-to-adequate-and-appropriate-basic-essentials,-including-31-food,-shelter,-clothing,-and-personal-necessities;-32-(e)-The-right-to-limit,-restrict,-suspend,-or-deny-visitation-by-court-33-order-because-visitation-would-be-contrary-to-the-safety-and-well---being-34-of-the-child.-Substantiated-safety-concerns-shall-be-considered-by-the-35-court-to-limit,-restrict,-suspend,-or-deny-visitation.-The-court-may-36-consider-any-relevant-factors,-including:-37-(i)-Safety-and-risk-assessments;-38-(ii)-Placement-and-supervision-decisions;-39-(iii)-Protective-plans;-40--2-(iv)-Medical,-behavioral-health,-and-developmental-evaluations;-1-and-2-(v)-Reunification-plans-and-case-plans;-and-3-(f)-The-right-to+determining+visitation,+andreasonableconsiderationof-the-child'ssafetyduring-4-transitions-between-foster-care-placements-when-practicable-and-con---5-sistent-with-the-safety-of-the-child.-Nothing-in-this-paragraph-shall-6-be-construed-to-delay-an-emergencyplacement-or-supersede-a-court-order-7-or-immediate-safety-determination.-In-evaluating-safety,-the-court-may-8-consider-factors-relevant-to-the-child's-circumstances,-including-age,-9-developmental-needs,-emotional-or-behavioral-health,-prior-trauma,-and-10-the-reasons-for-the-placement-change.-1-1-(2)+transitions.The-department-shall-develop-a+legislation+also+requires+the+Department+to+providewrittennotice-of,-at-a-minimum,-the-12+of+theserights-enumerated-in-this-section.-The-department-shall-provide-each-child-13-with-such-written-notice-at-the-time-of-initial-placement-in-foster-care,-14-at-each-placement-change,-and-at-least-annually.-Foster-homes-licensed-by-15-the-department-shall-post-the-notice-in-a-place-where+to+fosterchildren-have-access.-16-Failure-to-provide-or+and+topostsuchnotice-shall-not,-by-itself,-create-a-cause-of-17-action-or-constitute-a-violation-of-law.-18-(3)+in+licensed+foster+homes.The-rights-in-this-section-are-a-broad-expression-of-the-rights-of-19-children-in-foster-care,-are-not-exhaustive,-and-shall-be-interpreted-and-ap---20-plied-consistent-with-the-best-interests-of-the-child.-21-(4)-Nothing-in-this-section-shall-be-construed-to-expand-the-author---22-ity-of-the-state-or-the-department-beyond+bill+clarifiesthat-which-is-otherwise-provided-by-23-law-or-be-construed-to-create-a+implementation+occurs+within+existing+juvenile+court+and+departmental+processes,+creates+no+newprivatecauseof-action-or-a-cause-of-action-24-against-the-state,-the-judiciary,-the-department,-or-any-employee,-agent,-or-25-contractor-thereof.+action,+and+does+not+expand+state+authority+beyond+existing+law+.+The+legislation+is+intended+to+promote+consistent+recognition+of+safety+protections+for+children+in+foster+care+while+maintaining+existing+court+and+departmental+authority+.+FISCAL+NOTE+This+legislation+is+not+expected+to+have+a+significant+fiscal+impact+on+the+state+General+Fund.Implementation-of-this-section-shall-occur-through-ex---26-isting+occurs+within+existing+Department+of+Health+and+W+elfare+and+juvenilecourt-proceedings-and-departmentprocessesand-shall+doesnotrequirenew-27enforcement-mechanisms,-agencies,-reporting-structures,+mechanismsorappropriations.-28-(5)-Alleged-violations-of-the-rights-enumerated-in+Minor+administrative+costs+related+to+development,+printing,+and+distribution+of+notice+materials+are+expected+to+be+minimal+and+absorbed+within+existing+departmental+resources.+Contact:+Representative+Josh+Wheeler+(208)+332-1000+DISCLAIMER:+This+statement+of+purpose+and+fiscal+note+ar+e+a+mer+e+attachment+tothis-section-may-be-29-raised-within-the-child's-ongoing-juvenile-proceeding-pursuant-to-chapter-30-16,-title-16,-Idaho-Code,+bill+and+pr+epar+edby-the-child's-attorney,-guardian-ad-litem,-court---31-appointed-special-advocate,-the-department,-or-another-party-to-the-proceed---32-ing-already-granted-standing-under-existing-Idaho-law-or-by-a-foster-par---33-ent-through+a+pr+oponent+of+the+bill.+It+is+neither+intended+as+an+expr+ession+of+legislative+intent+nor+intended+forany-of-the-aforementioned.-Reports-or-information-submitted-by-34-a-mandatory-reporter-pursuant-to-Idaho-law-may-be-brought-to-the-attention-35-of-the-court-through-any-such-party-and-considered-by-the-court-in-determin---36-ing-whether-a-violation-of-these-rights-has-occurred.-Upon-such-notice,-the-37-court-shall-consider-the-allegation-and-may,-within-its-discretion,-order-38-appropriate-remedies-within-the-juvenile-proceeding-to-promote-the-safety-39-and-welfare-of-the-child.-Nothing-in-this-subsection-shall-be-construed-to-40-require-the-initiation-of-a-separate-action-or-to-expand-the-jurisdiction-of-41-the-court-beyond-existing-law.-Relief-under-this-subsection-shall-be-limited-42-to-corrective-orders-within-the-juvenile-proceeding-pursuant-to-chapter-16,-43-title-16,-Idaho-Code.-44-(6)-The-department-shall-make-reasonable-efforts-to-ensure-that-all-45-reports-received-pursuant-to-mandatory-reporting-laws-related-to-a-child-46-subject-to-a-juvenile-proceeding-pursuant-to-chapter-16,-title-16,-Idaho-47-Code,-are-documented-and-made-available-for-consideration-by-the-court-48-within-that-proceeding-in-a-manner-consistent-with-existing-confidential---49-ity,-evidentiary,-and-due-process-requirements.-50--3-(7)-Nothing-in-this-section-shall-be-construed-to-limit-the-ability-of-a-1-child,-the-child's-representative,-a-foster-parent,-or-a-party-to-the-juve---2-nile-proceeding-pursuant-to-chapter-16,-title-16,-Idaho-Code,-to-contact-the-3-health-and-social-services-ombudsman-regarding-concerns-related-to-the-im---4-plementation-of-this-section.-Any-review-or-recommendation-by-the-health-and-5-social-services-ombudsman-shall-be-advisory-in-nature-and-shall-not-create-a-6-cause-of-action-or-alter-the-authority-of-the-court-or-the-department.-7-SECTION-3.-An-emergency-existing-therefor,-which-emergency-is-hereby-8-declared-to-exist,-this-act-shall-be-in-full-force-and-effect-on-and-after-its-9-passage-and-approval.-10+use+outside+of+the+legislative+pr+ocess,+including+judicial+r+eview+(Joint+Rule+18).+Statement+of+Purpose+/+Fiscal+Note+Bill+SOP/FN+INTRODUCED:+02/18/2026,+9:42+AM
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