Amend HB 1481 by adding the following appropriately numbered 
SECTION to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill 
accordingly:
	SECTION ___.  Subchapter A, Chapter 263, Family Code, is 
amended by adding Section 263.007 to read as follows:
	Sec. 263.007.  FOSTER CHILDREN'S BILL OF RIGHTS.  (a)   In 
this section, "foster children's bill of rights" means the list of 
rights prescribed by Subsection (b) to which each child in 
substitute care is entitled.
	(b)  It is the policy of this state that each child in 
substitute care has the right:
		(1)  to live in a safe, healthy, and comfortable home 
where the child is treated with respect;
		(2)  to be free from physical, sexual, emotional, and 
other abuse, including corporal punishment and any form of 
discipline that humiliates or demeans the child;
		(3)  to be free from discrimination or harassment on 
the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, 
disability, sexual orientation, or HIV status;
		(4)  to receive adequate and healthy food;                             
		(5)  to receive and keep adequate clothing suitable to 
the child's age and size and comparable to the clothing of other 
children in the community;
		(6)  to receive appropriate medical, dental, vision, 
and mental health services;
		(7)  subject to Subdivisions (8) and (9), to not be 
physically restrained for longer than one minute unless other less 
restrictive behavioral interventions have been unsuccessful and 
physical restraint is necessary to:
			(A)  prevent substantial physical harm or 
imminent, probable death to the child or imminent physical harm to 
another person; or
			(B)  administer medication or provide medical 
treatment prescribed by a physician;
		(8)  to not be physically restrained for any period as 
punishment, retribution, retaliation, or discipline, to obtain 
compliance from the child, for the convenience of the foster parent 
or other substitute care provider, or as a substitute for effective 
treatment or rehabilitation;
		(9)  to not be locked or otherwise confined in any room, 
building, or facility or placed in an area where the child is 
physically prevented from leaving, unless the child is placed in a 
residential treatment facility or a mental health facility under an 
order of a physician or court;
		(10)  to be placed in substitute care with the child's 
siblings unless that placement is not in the best interests of the 
child or the child's sibling;
		(11)  if a sibling of the child is not placed in 
substitute care with the child, to be informed in writing of the 
name, address, and telephone number of the foster care home or other 
child-care facility in which the sibling is placed, unless 
prohibited by court order or the child's caseworker or a department 
supervisor determines that it is not in the child's best interests 
and the caseworker or supervisor, as applicable, includes the 
reason for that determination in the child's case records;
		(12)  to have a private storage space in the home or 
facility in which the child resides to store the child's personal 
belongings;
		(13)  to not be subjected to unreasonable searches of 
the child's personal belongings;
		(14)  to contact caseworkers, attorneys ad litem, 
guardians ad litem, and court-appointed special advocates;
		(15)  to communicate with caseworkers, judges, 
attorneys ad litem, guardians ad litem, court-appointed special 
advocates, foster parents, and other providers in the child's 
primary language, including in sign language;
		(16)  to regularly visit and regularly contact siblings 
and to regularly contact other family members, unless prohibited by 
court order or the child's caseworker or a department supervisor 
determines that it is not in the child's best interests and the 
caseworker or supervisor, as applicable, includes the reason for 
that determination in the child's case records;
		(17)  to never be denied contact or visitation with 
siblings or other family members as a form of discipline;
		(18)  to attend religious services and activities of 
the child's choice;
		(19)  to interact with persons outside of the foster 
care system, including teachers, church members, mentors, and 
friends;
		(20)  to make and receive confidential telephone calls 
and to send and receive unopened mail, unless prohibited by court 
order or the child's caseworker or a department supervisor 
determines that it is not in the child's best interests and the 
caseworker or supervisor, as applicable, includes the reason for 
that determination in the child's case records;
		(21)  to receive an age-appropriate money allowance, in 
an amount determined by the foster parent or other substitute care 
provider, for the purpose of developing money management skills, 
using money from the foster care payments made by the department to 
the foster parent or other substitute care provider for the care of 
the child;
		(22)  to maintain a personal bank account and manage 
personal income consistent with the child's age and developmental 
level, unless prohibited by the child's service plan;
		(23)  to expect that the child's records will be kept 
confidential in accordance with existing state and federal law, 
including the child's medical, mental health, child protective 
services, and educational records;
		(24)  to receive care and treatment in the least 
restrictive environment that is most like a family setting, 
consistent with the best interests and needs of the child;
		(25)  to not be unnecessarily or excessively medicated;                
		(26)  to not be admitted as a voluntary inpatient to a 
mental health facility unless the child consents as required by 
Section 572.001(c), Health and Safety Code;
		(27)  if the child is at least 14 years of age, to 
request a medical review of the child's medical care, including a 
review of the medications prescribed to the child, by a medical 
review team, and to receive a copy of the results of any medical 
review;
		(28)  to be informed before the child is 16 years of age 
that the child, at 16 years of age, may request a court hearing to 
determine if the child has the capacity to consent to medical care 
under Section 266.010;
		(29)  if the child is at least 16 years of age, to 
consent to all or some medical care, as authorized by the court 
under Section 266.010;
		(30)  if the child is at least 12 years of age, to 
participate in the development of the child's service plan and 
permanency plan;
		(31)  if the child is at least 12 years of age, to 
review and receive information regarding the child's service plan 
and permanency plan, including any changes made to the plans;
		(32)  to receive information about the child's foster 
parent or other substitute care provider consistent with the 
child's age and developmental level;
		(33)  to be appointed an attorney ad litem who is 
competent and provides zealous legal representation of the child's 
interests, and to meet, in person, with the child's attorney ad 
litem before each hearing involving the child;
		(34)  to request the appointment of an attorney or 
guardian ad litem to represent the child, if the child is not 
already represented by an attorney or guardian ad litem;
		(35)  to attend a court hearing that affects the 
conservatorship or placement of the child, including a status 
hearing, a permanency review hearing, or a placement review 
hearing;
		(36)  if the child is at least 14 years of age, to 
remain in the courtroom during a court hearing that affects the 
conservatorship or placement of the child, including a status 
hearing, a permanency review hearing, or a placement review 
hearing;
		(37)  regardless of the child's age, to speak privately 
to the judge at a court hearing that affects the conservatorship or 
placement of the child, including a status hearing, a permanency 
review hearing, or a placement review hearing;
		(38)  if the child has a disability, to be informed, in 
writing, of the name, existence, purpose, telephone number, and 
address of the protection and advocacy system established in this 
state under the applicable federal developmental disability laws, 
as defined by Section 112.001, Human Resources Code, for the 
purpose of advocating for and protecting the rights of persons with 
that disability;
		(39)  to attend school and participate in sports, 
clubs, and other school-related extracurricular activities, 
consistent with the child's age and developmental level;
		(40)  to participate in community activities, 
including recreational and social activities, consistent with the 
child's age and developmental level;
		(41)  to the extent possible, to have minimal 
disruption in the child's education, including the right to attend 
the same school if placed with an alternative substitute care 
provider, unless otherwise ordered by the court;
		(42)  if the child participates in a special education 
program, to meet and consult with the surrogate parent assigned to 
the child in accordance with federal law, regarding the child's 
individualized education program prior to each admission, review, 
and dismissal committee meeting held regarding the child;
		(43)  to participate in an organization that advocates 
for or on behalf of foster youth;
		(44)  to work and develop job skills consistent with 
the child's age in accordance with state and federal law;
		(45)  if the child is at least 16 years of age, to have 
access to information regarding postsecondary educational and 
vocational options available to the child, including information 
regarding financial aid available for postsecondary education and 
the course work or other requirements required to complete 
vocational training and postsecondary educational programs;
		(46)  to attend classes and receive other services 
provided under the Preparation for Adult Living Program established 
under Section 264.121;
		(47)  on, or as soon as possible after, the date of the 
child's 18th birthday or the date the child's disabilities of 
minority are removed, to be provided with the child's health and 
education passport information, social security card, state-issued 
personal identification card, and a certified copy of the child's 
birth certificate;
		(48)  to be informed in writing of how the child may 
obtain copies of the child's case records;
		(49)  to be informed in writing of the name, address, 
and telephone number of the person at or the division or office of 
the department that handles complaints regarding a violation of the 
child's rights; and
		(50)  to make a confidential complaint with the 
appropriate person at or the division or office of the department, 
or to speak confidentially with an appropriate person at the 
department, regarding a violation of the child's rights without 
punishment or threat of punishment for making the complaint.
	(c)  This section may not be construed to require a foster 
parent or other substitute care provider to take any action that 
would impair the health or safety of a child in substitute care.  
Any action taken that is inconsistent with the foster children's 
bill of rights must be included in the permanency progress report or 
placement review report filed with a court.
	(d)  The department shall provide a written copy of the 
foster children's bill of rights to each child placed in substitute 
care in the child's primary language, if possible, and shall inform 
the child of the rights provided by the foster children's bill of 
rights:
		(1)  orally in the child's primary language, if 
possible, and in simple, nontechnical terms; or
		(2)  for a child who has a disability, including an 
impairment of vision or hearing, through any means that can 
reasonably be expected to result in successful communication with 
the child.
	(e)  A home or facility in which a child is placed in 
substitute care shall provide a copy of the foster children's bill 
of rights to a child on the child's request.  The foster children's 
bill of rights must be printed in English and in a second language.
	(f)  The department shall promote the participation of 
foster children and former foster children in educating other 
foster children about the foster children's bill of rights.