Bill > HF4732

This bill requires that responsible social services agencies, which are the government entities overseeing children in foster care, must provide or ensure that children in foster care are given appropriate new or like-new luggage or travel bags for their belongings. This applies when a child enters or reenters foster care, moves between placements, exits foster care, or otherwise needs such bags, and explicitly prohibits the use of disposable bags, trash bags, or cardboard boxes. The bill also allows agencies to replace lost, stolen, or damaged luggage at their discretion, states that agencies or providers cannot take back the provided luggage, and permits agencies to accept donations of luggage. Furthermore, agencies must report annually on their compliance to the Office of the Foster Youth Ombudsperson, and these provisions will take effect on January 1, 2027.