Senate passes bill strengthening rights for youth in foster care
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Summary
The Oregon Senate passed SB 15-33, updating the Foster Children's Bill of Rights to guarantee notice and transportation to hearings, strengthen sibling contact, protect youth possessions and require visible posting of the Bill of Rights. The bill passed on final reading with a constitutional majority.
The Oregon Senate on Feb. 18 passed Senate Bill 15-33, an update to the state’s Foster Children’s Bill of Rights that sponsors say clarifies youths’ procedural rights in dependency proceedings and strengthens their ability to maintain family connections.
The bill’s floor sponsor (identified in the transcript as “Senator Gilser Blowing”) told colleagues the measure makes clear that “because a youth is a party to their own case, they absolutely always have the right to attend their own hearing and to be notified of their hearings and be provided transportation to their hearings.” The sponsor also highlighted provisions to strengthen youths’ right to maintain contact with siblings and to keep personal possessions, such as clothing, family photographs and electronic devices, while in care.
Supporters said the changes respond to testimony from youth who described losing contact with siblings or having belongings taken when they entered care. The sponsor also said the bill requires the Foster Care Bill of Rights to be posted in a place visible and accessible to youth so they know what services and protections are available.
Senators questioned whether language related to religious freedom that appeared in prior versions had been retained; the sponsor confirmed that language had been removed from this bill and that the current text tracks the earlier veto-override/concurrence language with the specific provision removed. Senator Hayden asked for confirmation that the religious-freedom concerns were not included in the present version; the sponsor replied that was correct.
After brief remarks of support from members of the Human Services Committee and other senators who cited testimony from foster youth, the Senate took a roll-call vote. The clerk recorded the vote and the presiding officer declared the bill passed by the constitutional majority required for enactment on third reading.
SB 15-33 now proceeds according to the legislative process for enrollment and transmission to the Governor for signature, subject to any remaining procedural steps.
Vote: The Senate recorded a constitutional majority on final passage.
