Idaho Bills

Adds to existing law to provide for a notice of safety-related rights for foster children.

This legislation establishes a Foster Child Safety provision in Idaho law to articulate safety-related rights for children placed in foster care under the supervision of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. The bill affirms that children in foster care have rights to a safe and healthy placement environment, protection from abuse, timely medical assessments following abuse disclosures, access to basic necessities, court consideration of safety when determining visitation, and reasonable consideration of safety during placement transitions. The legislation also requires the Department to provide written notice of these rights to foster children and to post such notice in licensed foster homes. The bill clarifies that implementation occurs within existing juvenile court and departmental processes, creates no new private cause of 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.

Adds to existing law to provide for department oversight for residential care facilities, licensing requirements, facility documentation requirements, and the youth bill of rights.

This legislation amends Chapter 12, Title 39, Idaho Code, by the addition of a new Section 39-1210A to establish provisions regarding the department’s quality of care oversight including inspection and interview requirements for children in residential care. This bill further amends Chapter 12, Title 39 of Idaho Code by adding Section 39-1210B to establish provisions regarding individualized service planning and documentation requirements for residential care facilities. This bill also amends Chapter 12, Title 39 by adding a new Section 39-1225 to establish provisions of a youth bill of rights in licensed children’s residential facilities and establishing a new Section 39-1226 to establish provisions regarding critical incident reporting.