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Committee advances bill to let foster youth have greater voice in placement decisions
Summary
The Judiciary Committee passed a bill to require courts to consider the expressed preferences of juveniles in foster care; sponsors said ad litem still represents the child's best interests and that courts retain discretion about testimony and methods of gathering a child's preference.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance a bill proposed by Representative Vaught to increase the formal role of foster youth in placement decisions by directing courts to consider a juvenile’s stated preferences.
Vaught said the bill was prompted by a tenth‑grade constituent who asked that, after repeated moves, she be given a greater voice about where she lives. "She said after so many times, she thought she should at least have a voice in the matter," Vaught said, and the…
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