The proposed bill amends the Citizen Substitute Care Review Act to improve oversight of the Children, Youth and Families Department's management of substitute care cases. It establishes a substitute care advisory council with a defined structure, including a director responsible for managing grievances and case reviews. The council will consist of ten voting members, including various secretaries and public members with expertise in child welfare, and will operate independently from the department. The bill also introduces new definitions related to the council's functions and clarifies the act's purpose to align with federal requirements for citizen review panels. Significant amendments include the removal of previous provisions regarding local substitute care review boards and the introduction of new operational rules for the council, emphasizing public participation and grievance processing.

Additionally, the bill sets new qualifications for the director and staff involved in child welfare administration, requiring the director to have a master's degree in social work or an active law license, along with five years of relevant experience. It mandates annual training for council staff to enhance their skills in case reviews and grievance processing. The bill introduces new sections addressing attorney general representation, grievance processing, and volunteer member participation, while ensuring confidentiality of grievance-related information. It also emphasizes timely access to necessary records and prohibits retaliation against individuals engaging with the council. Lastly, the bill repeals outdated sections of the law to streamline the legislative framework governing child welfare.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 32A-4-33, 32A-8-2, 32A-8-4