The proposed bill amends the Citizen Substitute Care Review Act to strengthen oversight of the Children, Youth and Families Department in managing substitute care cases. It introduces new definitions and establishes a Substitute Care Advisory Council composed of ten voting members, including representatives from various state departments and public members with expertise in child welfare. The council is tasked with independently monitoring the department's policies, ensuring compliance with federal requirements for citizen review panels, and addressing grievances related to the health, safety, and welfare of children in substitute care. Additionally, the bill enhances confidentiality provisions for records related to abuse and neglect proceedings, specifying access rights and circumstances.

Furthermore, 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. Council staff must have a bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience. The bill mandates annual training for staff to improve their skills in case reviews and grievance processing. It also outlines the council's administrative structure, establishes grievance procedures, and ensures legal consultation from the attorney general. Provisions to protect individuals who file grievances from retaliation are included, and existing conflicting sections of the law are repealed to align with the new amendments.

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