As a former foster child, I would like to see SB 163 passed

Senate passes foster care bill
More extensive training of parents on the way
Craig, Jon. Cincinnati Enquirer, Feb. 7, 2008.

COLUMBUS - State legislation prompted by the murder of Marcus Fiesel at the hands of his Clermont County foster parents is headed to Gov. Ted Strickland for his signature after approval by the Ohio Senate Tuesday.

The Senate's 31-0 vote Tuesday comes almost a year after David and Liz Carroll were convicted of the murder of the 3-year-old; the bill's passage capped 10 months of legislative debate over ways to reform Ohio's foster care system.

Among other changes, House Bill 214 increases training for foster parents and improves care for disabled foster children.

The legislation was prompted by Marcus' death in August 2006. The developmentally disabled Middletown boy died after being left tied up in a closet by the Carrolls when they took a weekend trip to Kentucky. They are serving life prison sentences.

State Sens. Gary Cates and Tom Niehaus spoke in support of the legislation on the Senate floor.

Cates, R-West Chester, said the new law "will go a long way to protect children" and "prevent these situations from happening again."

Niehaus, R-New Richmond, praised a change allowing current foster parents to mentor prospective foster parents. Parents will be paid for mentoring.

"The governor is supportive and plans to sign the bill," Keith Dailey, a spokesman for Strickland, said. The bill becomes law 90 days after the governor's signature.

House Bill 214 would:
-Increase the hours required for pre-placement training for foster parents by 12 hours, to 36 hours.

-Improve the placement and care for mentally and developmentally disabled foster children, including forums and new training for parents of children with special needs.

-Block public access to the names of foster parents unless they are charged with a crime or their certification is revoked. The public records exemption, added in the Ohio House, delayed passage of the bill.

Shortly after Marcus' death, The Enquirer filed a lawsuit seeking access to an electronic database of all foster homes in Ohio. If the Ohio Supreme Court rules in favor of the newspaper, records sought in that request - but not newer records - would be considered public.

Related legislation, Senate Bill 163 sponsored by Niehaus, requires FBI criminal background checks on all foster parents and adds their fingerprints to a statewide database. That bill awaits approval by the Ohio House.