S.2659 / H.4646 (Original Sponsors: Sen. Kennedy; Rep. Livingstone)
This Child Welfare Omnibus bill enhances reporting/analysis on disproportionality, reporting on transition age youth outcomes, and more timely notifications to children and youth attorneys. (Leads include CLM)
- According to DCF's latest annual report, children of color are overrepresented in the child welfare system.
- Nearly one in two youth who have exited care experienced homelessness in their first two years out of the child welfare system.
- Youth in the child welfare system are significantly more likely to be incarcerated at some point in their lives and are at higher risk for dropping out of high school than youth not in the child welfare system.
- This bill aims to resolve the lack of effective permanency plans for youth exiting state care.
STATUS: House Bill published as amended (H.4646) and is now sitting with Senate Ways and Means and Senate bill was sent to the Joint Committee on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently (after a favorable report by Joint Committee On Children and Families)
SPONSORS
House Petitioners aka sponsors: Livingstone, Moakley, Garballey, Worrell, Holmes
Senate co-sponsors: Kennedy, Edwards