This bill establishes the Office of the Child Advocate as an independent agency with jurisdiction over all children's services delivered or arranged by the State. It endows the Child Advocate with authority to receive complaints, access information, investigate, publicly report, make recommendations and advise the Governor, the Legislature, administrators of state agencies and the public on the best interests of children in providing services. It repeals the provision creating the ombudsman program in the Child and Family Services and Child Protection Act but retains services formerly provided by the ombudsman to be provided by the Office of the Child Advocate. It also provides for the transfer of funding from the ombudsman program to the Office of the Child Advocate.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 1893, HP 1264: 18-C.5, 22.4004, 22.4087