Greitens signs Foster Care Bill of Rights

Governor Eric Greitens signed the Foster Care Bill of Rights into law Thursday morning.

The signed bill creates a list of rights to ensure that children in the state’s foster care system are being protected and provides more tools to protect children from traffickers. One of the more tangible elements of the bill bans those convicted of sex crimes against children from coming within 500 feet of children’s museums.

There are 13,000 children in the state’s system, according to Sheena Greitens, Missouri’s first lady. She has taken up a focus on children and children’s rights during her time in the governor’s mansion.

“Many of you already know my family has first-hand experience with foster care and adoption that has touched my family and my life deeply,” said Greitens, whose sister is adopted.

The governor said one of the first dinners he and the first lady held after the inauguration was for foster children and their foster families. The governor got emotional speaking about what the children told him during that dinner.

“When we were at the dinner, so many of the kids said they feel being labeled as a foster kid is a label,” Greitens said. “And that label says that somehow those kids don’t have as much potential as the other kids in the state of Missouri. And that’s what they said. But here’s what it means. When you say a kid is a foster kid, what that means is they’re our kids.”

After the bill signing, the governor was asked about the ongoing special session. This is the second he’s called since the general assembly adjourned in May.

This second special session has been focused on pro-life issues. This week, the House passed a revised version of Senate Bill 5 that modifies provisions for abortion clinics. The House’s version is more restrictive than what the Senate passed.

“The House did a great job standing up for protecting our pregnancy care centers and we want to make sure that our senators stand up for the cause of pro-life and follow the lead of the House,” Greitens said.

The special sessions have cost Missouri taxpayers up to $20,000 a day, according to some estimates. When asked if that money could be better spent on programs for foster children or their families, the governor repeated a similar answer he gave last week after a pro-life rally held at the Capitol.

“My duty is to protect life and it’s really important for us to stand up and to protect life,” Greitens said. “We always make sure we find a way to protect life and to make sure we have all the resources we need to do that. And we’re going to make sure we also do the same thing by protecting our foster families and our foster kids in the state of Missouri.”

“Actually, what was really important was for us to get this done,” Greitens said. “Unfortunately, you had a group of radical politicians in St. Louis who were actually attacking pregnancy care centers.”

This special session began June 12. The Senate passed their Senate Bill 5 within the week. The House sent back their revised version Tuesday. Greitens said he hopes the lawmakers take action on this legislation quickly.

“It’s important for them to take action swiftly, to get the support and work done on behalf of pregnancy care centers that we need to stand up and protect.”

The Senate is expected to reconvene on Tuesday.