HB2257

THE CONTEXT: The Office of Licensing and Regulation, a subdivision of DCS, is responsible for the licensing and regulation of foster homes, congregate care agencies, child placing agencies and adoption agencies ( DCS Website ). Currently, when considering the placement of a child in a foster home DCS must follow a specified order of persons for placement.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would prohibit DCS from refusing to place a child in a licensed and qualified foster home or kinship foster home based solely on the vaccination status of the child or of the other children or foster children living in the foster home or kinship foster home.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to set a clear legal boundary for dcs instead of leaving the conduct unaddressed. It would prohibit DCS from refusing to place a child in a licensed and qualified foster home or kinship foster home based solely on the vaccination status of the child or of the other children or foster children living in the foster home or kinship foster home, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.