Substitute House Bill No. 5382, Public Act No. 24-126, is an act that implements recommendations from the Office of the Child Advocate to improve the welfare of children under the care of the Department of Children and Families (DCF). The bill modifies the State Advisory Council on Children and Families by changing its membership from twenty to an unspecified number, with nineteen members appointed by the Governor. The council's duties are expanded to include reviewing child safety data and conducting annual evaluations of the department's child protection responsibilities. The bill also requires the DCF to provide more detailed information in permanency plans and status reports, such as documentation of case reviews, information on the child's needs from service providers, and details of any new abuse or neglect reports or criminal charges against a parent.

The bill introduces new provisions for disclosing information about incidents of abuse or neglect that result in child fatalities or near fatalities, with limitations to protect privacy and ongoing investigations. It redefines "permanent legal guardianship" and introduces "trial home visits" for children committed to the Commissioner of Children and Families. The bill mandates written notice before transferring a child to a new placement and outlines conditions for youth to remain in care past eighteen. It also grants siblings the right to be heard in visitation and placement matters and requires DCF to notify attorneys and guardians ad litem of new abuse or neglect reports. The bill amends the language to emphasize the individual needs of the child or youth and mandates the DCF to provide updated information to the court. A working group is established to review legal services for children in child protection proceedings, with a report due by November 1, 2024. The bill also adjusts deadlines for the submission and distribution of a Title IX compliance toolkit.

Statutes affected:
KID Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 152:
File No. 605:
Public Act No. 24-126: