Text: HSB00682 Text: HSB00684 Text: HSB00600 - HSB00699 Text: HSB Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM REVIEW. 1 2 1. The citizens' aide shall conduct a review of the 1 3 state's child protection system in accordance with this 1 4 section. The review shall encompass all aspects of the 1 5 system, including child abuse reporting, investigation, and 1 6 assessment, child removal, child in need of assistance 1 7 proceedings, review and appeals, and termination of parental 1 8 rights. The purpose of review is to determine whether the 1 9 current system adequately provides fairness and due process 1 10 protections for all persons involved with the system. 1 11 2. The review may include but is not limited to all of the 1 12 following: 1 13 a. Surveys of attorneys experienced in representing 1 14 subjects of child abuse investigations and assessments and in 1 15 child welfare and family law. 1 16 b. Surveys of persons who have been the subject of a child 1 17 abuse investigation or assessment. 1 18 c. Reviews of known complaints concerning the system. 1 19 d. Reviews of previous testimony and submissions by 1 20 critics and proponents of the system to legislative, 1 21 administrative, and other bodies organized to provide 1 22 oversight of the child protection system. In addition, the 1 23 review may include review of the reports and findings of these 1 24 bodies. 1 25 e. Review of legal information concerning child protection 1 26 including state and federal statutory requirements, rules, 1 27 regulations, and policies, judicial decisions including 1 28 dissenting opinions, and opinions of the attorney general. 1 29 f. Interviews of recognized critics and supporters of the 1 30 child protection system. 1 31 g. Use of focus groups to refine the issues for 1 32 consideration. 1 33 h. Random sample reviews of closed child abuse 1 34 investigations and assessments. 1 35 3. The citizens' aide may appoint a project team or 2 1 contract for a project team to perform the review. Any 2 2 project team shall include persons with skills and knowledge 2 3 concerning child welfare and juvenile justice and due process 2 4 rights. The project team may include an attorney, an 2 5 authority on social work, and a skilled general investigator 2 6 or a paralegal. The citizens' aide may also utilize a broad- 2 7 based advisory group. 2 8 4. The citizens' aide shall submit a report containing 2 9 findings and recommendations in accordance with chapter 2C to 2 10 the department of human services, chief juvenile court officer 2 11 of each judicial district, governor, and general assembly. 2 12 The report shall be submitted on or before March 1, 1999. 2 13 5. Implementation of this section is subject to 2 14 authorization of funding for the purposes of this section by 2 15 the legislative council. 2 16 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of 2 17 immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment. 2 18 EXPLANATION 2 19 This bill relates to juvenile justice provisions involving 2 20 child protection and the payment of claims for wrongful 2 21 separation of a family. 2 22 The bill directs the citizens' aide to conduct a review of 2 23 all aspects of the state's child protection system to 2 24 determine whether the system adequately protects fairness and 2 25 due process for all involved. The bill includes a listing of 2 26 various aspects of the system which may be reviewed and 2 27 approaches to conducting the review. Performance of the 2 28 review is contingent upon the legislative council authorizing 2 29 funding. 2 30 The bill takes effect upon enactment. 2 31 LSB 3969HC 77 2 32 jp/sc/14
Text: HSB00682 Text: HSB00684 Text: HSB00600 - HSB00699 Text: HSB Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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