5981EDA8DC265DA4872583E10062FA87 Hearing Summary

Senator Fields and Senator Crowder, bill sponsors, presented
House Bill 19-1288.  This bill establishes certain rights for siblings
in foster care, unless the rights are not in the best interests of one
of the siblings. These include the rights to:

• be placed in foster care homes with siblings;
• be placed in close geographical distance to siblings;
  
• obtain temporary respite placements together, when possible;
  
• be placed with families and professionals who have had
  training on the importance of sibling relationships;
• be notified about changes in sibling placement or catastrophic
  events;
• be included in permanency planning discussions;
• maintain frequent and meaningful contact;
• be involved in each other's lives and share celebrations;
  
• annually receive contact information for all siblings;
  
• have private communications;
• be provided an explanation if contact with a sibling is
  restricted or denied;
• expect that a guardian ad litem will advocate for request
  contact and visits with siblings;
• have contact with siblings in any adoptive or guardianship
  placement; and
• receive age-appropriate documents from the county department
  of human services describing these rights.

In addition,
the bill allows an adult sibling of a youth in foster care to have the
right to be considered as a foster care provider, adoptive parent, and
relative custodian to their sibling.  Finally, the bill requires a
county department of human services to develop a sibling contact plan for
youth with siblings in foster care.

Becky Updike, Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center, testified in support of the bill.

Stacey Sanders, Elevating Connections, testified in support of the bill.

Davion, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Bri Lennon, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Dominique Mallard, Project Foster Power, testified in support of the bill.

The witness panel responded to questions.

Senator Fields recessed the meeting.