The formal legislative session ended on August 1st. With a huge number of bills awaiting advancement, only non-controversial bills with the strongest advocacy behind them have a chance to pass in the informal session.
These priorities and each bill on CLM’s full legislative agenda would codify improvements to child welfare, education, health care, equity, juvenile justice, and/or the human services workforce. To enhance the well-being of thousands of individuals and hundreds of communities, our Legislature needs to pass these bills.
CLM has asked our Members to call their legislators to advocate for our top three priorities:
1. An Act Enhancing Child Welfare Protections (Child Welfare Omnibus) (S.2804 - Senate Ways and Means)
- This bill adds:
- (1) Metrics concerning rates of racial disproportionality and disparity at various decision points throughout the life of a case for inclusion in DCF's annual report;
- (2) Examining disproportionality data as part of the Office of the Child Advocate's duties;
- (3) Transition Age Youth outcomes data to DCF annual reports, including the number of transition age youth aging out with:
- (a) Stable and permanent housing;
- (b) Employment (full or part-time) or military enlistment;
- (c) Health insurance; and
- (d) If sought, post-secondary education such as college, job training or certificate program within six months;
- (4) Directives from the bill Minimizing trauma to court-involved children and families on timely notifications to keep children's and youth's attorneys apprised of key events/information; and
- (5) The development of an electronic backpack to support education continuity for children in foster care.
2. An Act Establishing a Bill of Rights for Children in Foster Care (S.2803– Senate Ways and Means)
- Codifies and creates life-enhancing rights for children in care, such as promoting:
- Connection to family, community, and identity, and languages;
- Health care accessibility;
- Right to school of origin and education supports;
- Age-appropriate activities and milestones;
- Being informed of supports and services available; and
- Access to case worker and attorney, as well as participation in planning, notice, records, and complaints.
3. An Act Protecting Benefits Owed to Foster Children (H.4704– House Ways and Means)
- Ensures the vulnerable children eligible for benefits are getting them and youth exiting state care without permanency have these needed assets;
- Corrects the state's practice of taking children's benefits and makes sure benefits aren’t being used for things DCF purchases for other children in care; and
- Requires financial literacy training.
CLM also continues to advocate for the following:
4. An Act to Provide Identification to Youth and Adults Experiencing Homelessness (H.3388– House Ways and Means (passed the Senate in July 2023))
- Creates a process for a person who is homeless or an unaccompanied homeless youth to apply for a state identification card and waive fees; and ultimately
- Aids youth and adults experiencing homelessness to accomplish typical life tasks and access opportunities, such as applying for jobs, enrolling in education programs, and opening financial accounts.
5. Resolve providing for an investigation and study by a special commission relative to children and adolescents with intensive behavioral health needs (S.88 – Senate Ways and Means)
- Brings together stakeholders to assess appropriate programming for kids with intensive behavioral health needs and recommend service design.
We thank you all for supporting this advocacy for a successful 2023-2024 legislative session.