Substitute House Bill No. 6183, also known as Public Act No. 25-68, establishes a revised framework for the appointment of the Child Advocate within the Office of Governmental Accountability, effective July 1, 2025. The bill repeals and replaces Section 46a-13k, extending the term of the Child Advocate from four to five years and modifying the process for candidate selection. The advisory committee will now provide a list of three to five candidates within sixty days of a vacancy, with the Governor required to designate a candidate within eight weeks. If the Governor does not act, the first-ranked candidate will be automatically referred to the General Assembly for confirmation. Furthermore, the advisory committee is tasked with submitting both preliminary and final performance evaluations of the Child Advocate before the end of their term.

The bill also repeals and replaces Section 46a-13r, detailing the composition and responsibilities of the advisory committee, which will consist of seven members appointed by various legislative leaders and the Governor. The new legal language emphasizes the independence of the Child Advocate from state departments and outlines the appointment process for staff, as well as the requirement for annual reports on the office's activities. Additionally, the bill mandates an annual evaluation of the Office of the Child Advocate's effectiveness, which must be submitted to the relevant joint standing committees of the General Assembly and published on the Child Advocate's website, ensuring transparency and accountability in its operations.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill:
KID Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 154:
File No. 928:
Public Act No. 25-68: