H228 — An Act transferring foster care review responsibilities to the Office of the Child Advocate

Summary

An Act transferring foster care review responsibilities to the Office of the Child Advocate

Bill Text

• Full text Current

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The bill amends Chapter 18B and Chapter 18C of the General Laws, primarily restructuring the role and oversight of the child advocate in foster care reviews and inserting several definitions and new procedures regarding foster care placements.

• Chapter 18B, Section 6A

  Section 6A.

  Removes Section 6A from Chapter 18B entirely.

• Chapter 18C, Section 1

  “Committee”, the foster care review interdisciplinary committee.

  Adds a new definition for 'Committee' related to foster care.

• Chapter 18C, Section 1

  “Foster care placement”, all out-of-home placements of children, youth, or young adults by the department whether voluntarily or by court assigned custody.

  Adds a new definition for 'Foster care placement'.

• Chapter 18C, Section 1

  “Foster care review”, an administrative review of the status of each child, youth or young adult who is in foster care placement.

  Adds a new definition for 'Foster care review'.

• Chapter 18C, Section 1

  “Local panel”, a foster care review panel of trained volunteer citizen reviewers and FCRO staff created pursuant to this chapter.

  Adds a new definition for 'Local panel'.

• Chapter 18C, Section 1

  “Parties”, all parties involved in a specific child, youth, or young adult case.

  Adds a new definition for 'Parties'.

• Chapter 18C, Section 1

  “Permanency”, a legal, permanent family living arrangement.

  Adds a new definition for 'Permanency'.

• Chapter 18C, Section 1

  “Secretary”, the secretary of the executive office of health and human services.

  Adds a new definition for 'Secretary'.

• Chapter 18C, Section 2

  shall be independent of any supervision or control by any executive agency → shall be an independent state agency not subject to the supervision and control of any other executive office, department, commission, board, bureau, agency or political subdivision of the commonwealth.

  Clarifies that the agency is independent from all forms of state supervision.

• Chapter 18C

  Section 4A establishing an interdisciplinary committee within the advisory council.

  Creates a new section establishing the structure and purpose of an interdisciplinary committee for foster care.

• Chapter 18C

  Section 15 detailing the child advocate's responsibilities regarding foster care case reviews.

  Specifies the mandate for the child advocate to conduct regular foster care reviews and report findings.

• Chapter 18C

  Section 16 outlining the establishment of local panels for conducting reviews.

  Establishes local panels of citizen reviewers to assist in the case review process.

• Chapter 18C

  Section 17 regarding the conduct of foster care case reviews.

  Sets detailed processes for conducting comprehensive reviews of foster care cases.

• Chapter 18C

  Section 18 ensuring access to information for the child advocate.

  Guarantees the child advocate's access to necessary information for conducting case reviews.

• Chapter 18C

  Section 20 detailing annual reporting requirements for the child advocate.

  Mandates annual reports from the child advocate to various stakeholders about foster care activities.

• Chapter 18C

  Section 21 providing legal protections for child advocate personnel.

  Offers immunity to child advocate employees and volunteers from certain lawsuits while performing their duties.

• Chapter 18C

  Transition and implementation plan requirements.

  Requires a transition and implementation plan for the foster care review system to be developed and executed.

Sponsors

• Tricia Farley-Bouvier · Primary

Subjects