"An Act relating to disclosure of information about a child or a child's family to a legislator or a member of a legislator's staff; and making conforming changes. "

It has been brought to my attention that foster parents are not afforded the same opportunities as parents or legal guardians when discussing confidential matters with legislators. In fact, foster parents are not permitted to discuss ANY confidential matters with legislators.

For example, a foster family is having problems getting reimbursed from the Office of Children's Services (OCS) for a school trip. If the family were to call a legislator's office to get help with the reimbursement, they would not be allowed to provide the name of the child or any confidential information that would help the legislator when communicating with OCS. So the legislator then must contact OCS on the foster parent's behalf with very little information that could help put OCS in the right direction to solving the problem.

I have introduced HB 14 because often a legislator is a foster parent's last line of defense when trying to obtain services or care for a foster child, or if the foster parent is in a disagreement with the Office of Children's Services (OCS). It is important that foster parents be allowed to communicate with their legislator or a member of the legislator's staff.

I urge your support of this legislation.

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