A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT establishing the foster children's bill of rights.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article 1A of Chapter 131D of the General Statutes is amended by adding the following new section to read:
"§ 131D‑10.2A.  Foster Care Children's Bill of Rights.
It is the policy of this State that the core elements of the Foster Care Children's Bill of Rights shall include the following:
(1)	The right to a safe foster home free of violence, abuse, neglect, and danger.
(2)	The right of first priority to be placed in a home with siblings.
(3)	The right to be able to communicate with the assigned social worker or case worker overseeing the child's case and have calls made to the social worker or case worker returned within a reasonable period of time.
(4)	The right to remain enrolled in the school the child attended before being placed in foster care, if at all possible.
(5)	The right of a social worker, when a child is removed from the home, to immediately begin conducting an investigation to identify and locate all grandparents, adult siblings, and other adult relatives of the child to provide those persons with specific information and explanation of various options to participate in placement of a child.
(6)	The right to participate in school extracurricular activities, community events, and religious practices.
(7)	The right to inform and communicate with the parents if the child placed in foster care receives any immunizations and if any additional immunizations are needed.
(8)	The right to establish a bank or savings account in accordance with State laws and federal regulations.
(9)	The right to obtain identification and permanent documents, including a birth certificate, social security card, and health records by the age of 16, to the extent allowed by federal and State law.
(10)	The right to use appropriate communication measures to maintain contact with siblings if the child placed in foster care is separated from his or her siblings.
(11)	The right to participate in a transition plan for those phasing out of foster care."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.