SB 1008 — AN ACT CONCERNING LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR CHILDREN IN CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS IN THE SUPERIOR COURT.

Senate General Assembly RaisedFile Bill No.

1008662 January Session, 2023 LCOSenate Bill No.

34811008 ReferredSenate, toApril 27, 2023 The Committee on COMMITTEEAppropriations ONreported CHILDRENthrough IntroducedSEN. by:

(KID)OSTEN ANof ACTthe CONCERNING19th LEGALDist., REPRESENTATIONChairperson FORof CHILDRENthe INCommittee CERTAINon PROCEEDINGSthe INpart THEof SUPERIORthe COURT.Senate, that the bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR CHILDREN IN CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS IN THE SUPERIOR COURT.

If the child's parent or guardian has been accused by a competent witness of abusing the child, or of causing the child to be neglected or uncared for, upon thetheassignmentorappointmentofcounsel,suchcounselshallbegranted assignment or appointment of counsel, such counsel shall be granted immediate access to (i) records relating to the child, including, but not limited to, Department of Social Services records and medical, mental healthSB1008 and/ substanceFile abuse treatment, law enforcement and educational records, without the necessity of securing LCO 3481 \\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\KEHOET\WS\2023SB-01008-R02-1 of 2 SB.docx Bill No.

1008662 further1 releases,SB1008 andFile (ii)No. the child, for the purpose of consulting with the child privately.

662 health andsubstance abuse treatment,lawenforcement andeducational records, without the necessity of securing further releases, and (ii) the child, for the purpose of consulting with the child privately.

Section 1 October 1, 2023 46b-129a(2)(A) KID Joint Favorable C/R APP APP Joint Favorable LCOSB1008 3481/ {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\KEHOET\WS\2023SB-01008-File 2No. of 2 R02-SB.docx }

662 2 SB1008 File No.

662 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.

Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 24 $ FY 25 $ Pub.

Defender Serv.

Com.

GF - Cost 250,000 250,000 Note:

GF=General Fund Municipal Impact:

None Explanation The bill extends the provision of public defender services to clients of the Department of Children and Families, (DCF) which results in an estimated cost of $250,000 annually.

The current eligibility ends at age 18, and the bill extends it to 23.

The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to the number of eligible DCF clients.

SB1008 / File No.

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662 OLR Bill Analysis SB 1008 AN ACT CONCERNING LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR CHILDREN IN CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS IN THE SUPERIOR COURT.

SUMMARY In child abuse or neglect cases in Superior Court, existing law requires the chief public defender’s office to assign counsel to represent the child and act solely as the child’s attorney.

If there is an immediate need for the appointment during a court proceeding, the court must appoint such counsel.

This bill requires the child’s appointed or assigned counsel, whichever the case may be, to continue representing the child for the duration of the court proceedings.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

October 1, 2023 COMMITTEE ACTION Committee on Children Joint Favorable Change of Reference - APP Yea 19 Nay 0 (02/24/2023) Appropriations Committee Joint Favorable Yea 52 Nay 0 (04/20/2023) SB1008 / File No.

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