(a) "Extracurricular activities" means age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate activities as follows:

(A) Activities or items that are generally accepted as suitable for children or wards of the same chronological age or level of maturity or that are determined to be developmentally appropriate for a child or ward, based on the development of cognitive, emotional, physical and behavioral capacities that are typical for an age or age group; and

(B) In the case of a specific child or ward, activities or items that are suitable for the child or ward based on the developmental stages attained by the child or ward with respect to the cognitive, emotional, physical and behavioral capacities of the child or ward.

(b) "Reasonable and prudent parent standard" means the standard, characterized by careful and sensible parental decisions that maintain the health, safety and best interests of a child or ward while encouraging the emotional and developmental growth of the child or ward, that a substitute care provider shall use when determining whether to allow a child or ward in substitute care to participate in extracurricular activities.

(2)(a) The Department of Human Services shall, in accordance with rules adopted by the department, ensure that a substitute care provider for a child or ward in the care or custody of the department:

(A) Provides an opportunity for the child or ward to participate in at least one ongoing extracurricular activity based on availability and the interests of the child or ward; and

(B) Applies a reasonable and prudent parent standard when determining such participation.

(b) The department and the substitute care provider shall confer to determine the party that will be responsible for payment of any fee or charge related to a child’s or ward’s participation in an extracurricular activity under this section.

(3) Nothing in subsection (2) of this section shall be construed to prohibit a child or ward from participating, or a substitute care provider from allowing a child or ward to participate, in a summer camp or religious services. However, participation in a summer camp or religious services alone does not satisfy the requirements of subsection (2) of this section. [2015 c.472 §2]