§286.22. Findings and intent

            A. The legislature hereby finds and declares the following:

            (1) Parents make important decisions every day regarding participation by their children in activities, and caregivers of children in foster care are faced with making the same decisions for their foster children.

            (2) When a foster caregiver makes decisions, he must consider applicable laws and rules to safeguard the health and safety of a child in his care; and those laws and rules are not intended to be applied in such a manner as to prohibit children in foster care from participating in age- or developmentally appropriate activities.

            (3) Participation in age- and developmentally appropriate activities is important to a child's well-being, both emotionally and in terms of developing healthy coping mechanisms and valuable life skills.

            B. It is the intent of the legislature to recognize the importance of normalizing the lives of children in foster care while ensuring their health and safety, and to empower caregivers and legal custodians to support and encourage a child's participation in activities.

            Acts 2015, No. 310, §1.