Researcher: JC Page 1 5/3/22
OLR Bill Analysis
sSB 308 (File 152, as amended by Senate "A")*
AN ACT CONCERNING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE OFFICE
OF THE CHILD ADVOCATE.
SUMMARY
This bill makes several changes in laws related to the Office of the
Child Advocate (OCA). It:
1. expands the age range, from children age 20 or younger to
children age 21 and under, for which the child advocate must
report confinement conditions;
2. requires the child advocate to report at least three times each year
to the OCA advisory committee on the office’s goals and projects,
within available appropriations, that are consistent with the child
advocate’s responsibilities;
3. requires the OCA advisory committee to (a) meet at least three
times each year with the child advocate and her staff to receive
her reports and (b) annually evaluate OCA’s effectiveness; and
4. extends existing law’s whistleblower protections that prohibit
municipal agencies from discharging, discriminating, or
retaliating against employees who make good faith complaints to
OCA, or cooperate with OCA investigations, to cover employees
of any agency or entity providing publicly funded services.
Under existing law, the child advocate has the right to inspect and
copy any records necessary to carry out her responsibilities. The bill
specifies that the child advocate has the right to request and promptly
inspect and copy these records. Additionally, the bill requires requested
records to be provided to her within 14 days of the request. By law, the
child advocate may issue a subpoena for records she is denied access to. 2022SB-00308-R01-BA.DOCX
Researcher: JC Page 2 5/3/22
The bill also allows the child advocate to disclose confidential
information to a child’s legal representative if the disclosure is necessary
to enable the child advocate to perform her responsibilities or to
identify, prevent, or treat a child’s abuse or neglect. Under current law,
the child advocate may only disclose this information to the appropriate
agency responsible for the child’s welfare.
*Senate Amendment “A” (1) eliminates provisions establishing a
reappointment process and compensation for the child advocate; (2)
requires the child advocate to report on office goals and projects three
times a year, rather than biannually, to the OCA advisory committee;
and (3) requires the OCA advisory committee to meet with the child
advocate at least three times a year and annually evaluate OCA’s
effectiveness.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2022
REPORTING ON YOUTH CONFINEMENT CONDITIONS
Under current law, the child advocate must prepare an in-depth
report on the conditions of confinement for children age 20 or younger
held in secure detention or correctional confinement in any state-
operated facility, including the facilities’ compliance with the law
limiting the use of restraint and seclusion. The bill expands the age
range of children for which the child advocate must report on to include
children age 21 and under. Under existing law, the child advocate must
submit the report biennially to the Children’s Committee.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Committee on Children
Joint Favorable
Yea 10 Nay 3 (03/10/2022)