| Old | New | Differences | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 2025 SESSION | |
| 2 | 2 | ||
| 3 | 3 | INTRODUCED | |
| 4 | 4 | ||
| 5 | 5 | 25101777D | |
| 6 | 6 | ||
| 7 | 7 | HOUSE BILL NO. 2187 | |
| 8 | 8 | ||
| 9 | 9 | Offered January 8, 2025 | |
| 10 | 10 | ||
| 11 | 11 | Prefiled January 7, 2025 | |
| 12 | 12 | ||
| 13 | 13 | A BILL to amend and reenact 2.2-442 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Children's Ombudsman; powers and duties. | |
| 14 | 14 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| 17 | 17 | PatronFreitas | |
| 18 | 18 | ||
| 19 | 19 | ||
| 20 | 20 | ||
| 21 | 21 | Committee Referral Pending | |
| 22 | 22 | ||
| 23 | 23 | ||
| 24 | 24 | ||
| 25 | 25 | Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia: | |
| 26 | 26 | ||
| 27 | 27 | 1. That 2.2-442 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows: | |
| 28 | 28 | ||
| 29 | 29 | 2.2-442. Children's Ombudsman; powers and duties. | |
| 30 | 30 | ||
| 31 | 31 | In addition to any powers described in this chapter, the Children's Ombudsman has the authority to do all of the following with regard to children for whom a report of abuse or neglect was made, children receiving child-protective services, in foster care, or placed for adoption, and children who may have died as a result of alleged abuse or neglect: | |
| 32 | 32 | ||
| 33 | 33 | 1. Pursue all necessary action, including legal action, to protect the rights and welfare of such children; | |
| 34 | 34 | ||
| 35 | 35 | 2. Pursue legislative advocacy in the best interest of such children; | |
| 36 | 36 | ||
| 37 | 37 | 3. Review policies and procedures relating to any child-serving agency's involvement with such children upon the Ombudsman's own initiative or upon receipt of a complaint and make recommendations for improvement; | |
| 38 | 38 | ||
| 39 | 39 | 4. Initiate investigations of administrative acts of the Department, a local department, a children's residential facility, or a child-placing agency in cases relating to such children upon the Ombudsman's own initiative or upon receipt of a complaint; and | |
| 40 | 40 | ||
| 41 | 41 | 5. Subject to an appropriation of funds, commence and conduct investigations into alleged violations of the rights of a foster parent. |