Wednesday, April 5, 2017 | 2 a.m.
Lawmakers have passed a bill that would set up requirements for the treatment of LGBTQ foster kids.
Sponsored by Assemblyman Nelson Araujo, D-Las Vegas, the bill requires foster parents to ensure children in their care are treated according to their gender identity and expression. Assembly Bill 99 also stipulates that foster parents and agency officials who have direct contact with children receive training in working with LGBTQ minors, among other requirements.
“Even though LGBTQ youth are overrepresented in foster care, only 14 states have foster care laws inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity,” Araujo previously said. “While Nevada does have comprehensive anti-discrimination laws and policies, they do not specifically address child welfare.”
A spokeswoman for Gov. Brian Sandoval said Wednesday that he will review the amended bill once it arrives on his desk.
The amended bill passed the Assembly 26-15 on March 9 and the Senate 18-2 on Tuesday. Some have said the bill may discourage potential foster parents, who already face many requirements.
Tristan Torres of Las Vegas was among those to tell lawmakers about their personal experiences in foster care. He said he was put into foster care after telling his mom he was transgender.
“My experience in foster care was a failure of the system itself,” Torres said. “I believe that if this bill had been law when I was in foster care, I would never have had to endure the ignorance of my caregivers. They could have received LGBTQ cultural competency training and learned about my needs as a transgender foster youth.”
