Sponsor Statement for HB 375

In this bill, we rewrote many of the laws directing the Division of Family and Youth Services in its work to protect children from abuse. Perhaps most importantly, the bill changes the Division's top priority from keeping families together, to preserving children's health and safety no matter where they live. It also adds $9.4 million for more DFYS workers and child protection attorneys, so we can address unacceptable delays and backlogs in child welfare cases.

The bill received extensive work at the hands of the Health, Education and Social Services Committee, which I chair. In its final form, it included many features of which I am very proud. HB 375:

• Frees the state from having to try to reunite families where
  children have been tortured or sexually abused;
• Provides for criminal checks for prospective foster parents or caregivers;
• Allows earlier intervention in child abuse and neglect cases;
• Sets clear performance standards for social workers;
• Creates a statewide Child Fatality Review Team;
• Allows foster care parents and caregivers to obtain relevant information on children;
• Sets firm deadlines to help children find permanent, safe homes more quickly.