This bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on June 22, 2023. This bill safeguards individuals with disabilities who are parents, legal guardians, creatives, caregivers, foster or adoptive parents, or aspiring foster or adoptive parents from discrimination within the child welfare system.
This bill aims to provide comprehensive support services, accommodations, and effective communication, either directly or through referrals, along with follow-up to ensure access to resources, in order to guarantee full and equal opportunities for participation for individuals with disabilities who are parents, legal guardians, relatives, caregivers, foster or adoptive parents, or those seeking to become foster or adoptive parents. This includes offering training on the rights of individuals with disabilities involved in child welfare proceedings, ensuring their full and equal participation in such proceedings. Additionally, it provides guidance for child welfare professionals and court personnel on conducting parenting assessments and delivering parenting education to various groups of individuals with disabilities, with the goal of preventing any imposition of restrictions on parental rights solely based on disability.