Amendment added to foster care bill

Vote delayed on foster care
Cincinnati Enquirer, Oct. 10, 2007.

The Ohio House delayed a vote Tuesday, at least until this afternoon, on a foster care reform bill that will increase training for parents but exempt details about foster parents from Ohio's public records law.

An amendment by state Rep. Jeff Wagner, R-Sycamore, would block public access to most foster care records except those about parents whose state certification is revoked.

Foster parent organizations have lobbied for keeping records private, while the Ohio Newspaper Association is arguing against it.

The Enquirer sued the state to get access to similar records, including foster parents' names, a case that is awaiting arguments before the Ohio Supreme Court.

Gov. Ted Strickland supports keeping such records confidential, according to his spokesman, Keith Dailey.