The proposed bill seeks to strengthen the oversight and accountability of the Children, Youth and Families Department concerning substitute care by establishing a more structured Citizen Substitute Care Review Act. Key amendments include changes to existing confidentiality laws, allowing members of the substitute care advisory council and their staff access to specific records necessary for their duties. The bill introduces new definitions such as "grievance," "identified child," and "substitute care," which clarify the council's responsibilities and the types of cases it will review. Additionally, the composition of the advisory council is restructured, increasing its membership from nine to ten voting members and ensuring its independence from the department. The council is mandated to meet quarterly, establish work groups, and adopt operational rules, including procedures for public participation and grievance processing.

Furthermore, the bill outlines new qualifications for the director and council staff, requiring the director to have a master's degree in social work or an active law license with five years of relevant experience, while council staff must possess a bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience. It mandates annual training for council staff to improve their skills in case reviews and grievance processing. The bill also details the Attorney General's role in providing legal consultation, establishes grievance processing procedures, and allows for volunteer member participation in case reviews. It emphasizes confidentiality in handling information and ensures that council staff can access necessary records while protecting individual identities. The bill also repeals previous conflicting sections of the law to streamline the review process and enhance the accountability of the child welfare system.

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