5811-S AMH CFS FORL 15

SSB 5811 - H COMM AMD ADOPTED 4/11/03

By Committee on Children & Family Services

   On page 1, beginning on line 4, strike all of section 1 and insert:

   "NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that a large group of children spend a significant part of their lives in foster care. Each individual connected to a child in an out-of-home placement must have an abiding appreciation of the seriousness of the child's separation from his or her family and the past, whether that separation is short, long, or permanent in nature. It is the intent of the legislature to recognize and honor the history and the family connections that each child brings to an out-of-home placement.

   The legislature finds that creating and sanctioning a connection between a child's birth parents and foster family, when appropriate, can result in better relationships among birth families, children, foster families, and social workers. Creating and sanctioning this connection can result in greater foster placement stability and fewer disruptions for children, as well as greater satisfaction for foster parents and social workers."

EFFECT: Replaces intent language.