Sen. Joey Hensley offers round-up of laws passed during legislative session

Adoption and foster care are critical pillars of support for vulnerable children, offering them the opportunity to grow up in safe, loving, and stable environments. These systems provide hope for children who are unable to remain with their biological parents. In the General Assembly we have worked for many years to pass legislation to improve the state’s adoption and foster care system so more Tennessee children can grow up in loving homes.

One way we have done that is by decreasing financial barriers for families who want to adopt or foster children. This year we passed a new law which helps relative caregivers of children with the financial costs of taking care of a child who is not their own but that the caregiver is related to. The new law removes the income limit for the Relative Caregiver Program, which provides stipends to those who care for children in their family.

Since the program’s inception in 2022, many interested families have not qualified for the stipend because they were over the income limit. This law allows eligibility for all families. It also streamlines the court process for a family member to become eligible for the stipend by allowing eligibility for relative caregivers awarded custody by a court. Previously, a final custody order from Juvenile Court was required to receive the stipend, which was a burdensome and lengthy process.

Removing vaccine requirements for adoptive and foster families

Another new law passed this year which aims to increase the number of Tennessee families eligible to adopt and foster children. It safeguards the rights of families to adopt or foster without facing mandates regarding specific vaccinations.

This new law prohibits the Department of Children’s Services from discriminating against families based on their immunization status. It removes a barrier that unfairly disqualified families from providing loving homes to children in state care. By removing vaccine requirements for adoptive and foster families, the new law aims to increase the number of eligible families, ultimately providing more children with the opportunity to find safe and supportive homes in Tennessee.

We should encourage not hinder good, loving families who desire to foster and/or adopt these babies. This legislation reflects Tennessee’s core family values and commitment to ensuring children have the chance to thrive in a supportive family environment.

Foster and Adoptive Parent Protection Act

Similarly, we passed a new law that prohibits religious discrimination of potential adoptive or foster parents. This law prevents the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) from denying eligibility to foster or adopt because of religious and moral beliefs. The new protections prohibit the DCS from requiring foster parents to adopt, affirm, or support any government policy. It also maintains that a child’s best interest is the priority during placement. It aims to protect religious freedom for existing and prospective foster and adoptive parents in Tennessee and ensures that the number of foster care homes in Tennessee continues to grow.  The measure also maintains that a child’s best interest is prioritized during placement.

We desperately need foster homes in our state and around the country. In Tennessee, we will ensure no family is denied the ability to foster or adopt because of their religious beliefs. This bill aims to protect foster and adoptive families’ religious freedom and ensures we do not exclude those loving families from foster care and adoption.

Removing barriers for state employees to become foster parents

Additionally, under a new law , state employees will be granted paid time off to complete the required training to become a foster parent. This change aims to increase the number of foster homes in Tennessee. It is estimated that around 200 state employees will become foster parents at some point.

Both adoption and foster care address the emotional, physical, and developmental needs of children, ensuring they have the resources to grow into well-rounded adults. These systems not only change the lives of children but also enrich the lives of those who choose to open their homes and hearts to them. In Tennessee we are doing everything we can to build up the foster care and adoption community and increase the number of loving and welcoming homes for vulnerable children.

Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald, gives a weekly update in legislation in the 113th General Assembly.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Sen. Joey Hensley offers round-up of laws passed during legislative session