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5981EDA8DC265DA4872583E10062FA87 Hearing Summary




PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For HB19-1288

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Date Apr 19, 2019      
Location SCR 357



HB19-1288 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole


12:02:12 PM  
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.

12:06:09 PM  
Becky Updike, Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center, testified in support of the bill.
12:07:16 PM  
Stacey Sanders, Elevating Connections, testified in support of the bill.
12:09:55 PM  

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

12:11:39 PM  

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

12:14:32 PM  
Dominique Mallard, Project Foster Power, testified in support of the bill.
12:21:19 PM  
The witness panel responded to questions.
12:23:41 PM  
Korey Elger, Colorado Department of Human Services (DHS),
testified in support of the bill.


12:28:20 PM
Motion Refer House Bill 19-1288 to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Fields
Seconded
Crowder Yes
Smallwood Yes
Winter Yes
Pettersen Yes
Fields Yes
Final YES: 5   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS
12:28:21 PM  

Senator Fields recessed the meeting.






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