General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 397
January Session, 2017 *_____SB00397KID___030317____*
General Assembly
Substitute Bill No. 397
January Session, 2017
*_____SB00397KID___030317____*
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OMBUDSMAN.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2017) (a) There is established, within the Office of Governmental Accountability, the Office of the Department of Children and Families Ombudsman. Such office shall (1) respond to inquiries and complaints related to Department of Children and Families services received from Department of Children and Families' clients and personnel, foster and adoptive parents, the Governor's office, legislators, service providers and others; (2) serve as an information and referral source for such individuals and entities; and (3) resolve disputes arising out of such complaints in a manner consistent with the best interests of children in the custody of the department, utilizing a neutral and collaborative process that facilitates fair, equitable and amicable resolutions.
(b) The director of the Office of the Department of Children and Families Ombudsman shall be appointed by the Governor, with the approval of the General Assembly.
(c) Not later than January 1, 2018, and monthly thereafter, the director of the Office of the Department of Children and Families Ombudsman shall submit a report to the Child Advocate. Such report shall include, but not be limited to, (1) the number of inquiries and complaints received by such office in the previous month, categorized by the type of inquiry or complaint and the nature of the source of such inquiry or complaint, but shall not include any personally identifying information regarding persons who have made such inquiries or complaints; and (2) the number of disputes resolved by such office in the previous month and the number of such disputes that remain unresolved.
(d) Not later than January 31, 2019, and annually thereafter, the director of the Office of the Department of Children and Families Ombudsman shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children. Such report shall include, but not be limited to, (1) the number of inquiries and complaints received by such office each month of the previous calendar year, categorized by the type of inquiry or complaint and the nature of the source of such inquiry or complaint, but shall not include any personally identifying information regarding persons who have made such inquiries or complaints; and (2) the number of disputes resolved by such office each month of the previous calendar year.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2017 New section
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1
October 1, 2017
New section
KID Joint Favorable Subst.
KID
Joint Favorable Subst.