Bipartisan bill offered by Fitzpatrick, Bacon supports parents with disabilities

U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Don Bacon (R-NE) on July 12 signed on as original cosponsors of the bipartisan Equality for Families with Disabilities Act, which protects parents and guardians with disabilities against discrimination in state child welfare proceedings.

“Currently, there are 4.1 million parents with disabilities in the United States,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick. “It is critical that we protect these parents who face excessive scrutiny and challenges. I am proud to cosponsor this bipartisan legislation and will continue to ensure that parents with disabilities are not discriminated against by state child welfare agencies.”

H.R. 8335, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI), would require individualized, fact-based evaluations of parenting capabilities to prevent state agencies from restricting parental rights solely based on disability status, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.

“Protecting the rights of parents with disabilities must be a priority in Congress,” Rep. Bacon said. “All too often, the scrutiny on special needs families can be negatively shown in our society. Studies show that children who remain with their biological families have better outcomes across the spectrum. Our number one goal is to keep them with their families.”

Under H.R. 8335, state child welfare plans also would be required to include supports for parents, guardians and other caregivers with disabilities, and federal agencies — in consultation with relevant agencies, organizations and individuals — would have to revise and update relevant 2015 technical assistance to include education and training materials for states, the summary says.

Additionally, the bill would amend the Court Improvement Program formula grants to allow state courts to use funding to determine the accessibility of state child welfare proceedings for parents and guardians with disabilities, and to implement improvements based on these assessments, among other provisions.

“For far too long, parents and guardians with disabilities have faced undue discrimination in state child welfare proceedings,” said Rep. Langevin. “It’s time to end discrimination against parents and guardians in child welfare proceedings, once and for all.”

The National Disability Rights Network endorsed the measure.