HB2611

THE CONTEXT: The primary purpose of DCS is to protect children. To achieve this, DCS will do and focus equally on: 1) investigating reports of abuse and neglect; 2) assessing, promoting and supporting the safety of a child in a safe and stable family or other appropriate placement in response to allegations of abuse and neglect; 3) cooperating with law enforcement regarding reports that include allegations of criminal conduct; and 4) coordinating services to achieve and maintain permanency for the child, strengthen the family and provide prevention, intervention and treatment services without compromising the child's safe...

WHAT THE BILL DID: of DCS is to protect children. To achieve this, DCS will do and focus equally on: 1) investigating reports of abuse and neglect; 2) assessing, promoting and supporting the safety of a child in a safe and stable family or other appropriate placement in response to allegations of abuse and neglect; 3) cooperating with law enforcement regarding reports that include allegations of criminal conduct; and 4) coordinating services to achieve and maintain permanency for the child, strengthen the family and provide prevention, intervention and treatment services without compromising the child's safety (A.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to give the people who rely on the rule clearer information and a defined reporting process. It would prohibit a foster parent, kinship caregiver, foster home, group foster home or employee, contractor or agent of a home or facility where a child in the care of DCS is placed from taking, threatening or causing retaliatory action against a child for the child reporting a suspected violation of personal rights or for participating in an inquiry of such violation and the child making the report or participating in such in good faith or with a reasonable belief that the report was true, and would also entitles a foster child and kinship foster care child to the right to: a. voluntarily participate in enrichment activities; and b. be free of bullying or discrimination, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.