Modifications to Office of Child Protection Ombudsman

The bill reorganizes and updates statutes pertaining to the duties of the office of the child protection ombudsman (office) and the child protection ombudsman (ombudsman).

The bill:

• Clarifies when the ombudsman may receive and conduct an independent and impartial investigation of complaints concerning child protection services;
• Clarifies the types of information, documents, or records that the ombudsman does not have access to;
• Reorganizes statutes that pertain to when an ombudsman investigates a complaint;
• Reorganizes statutes that pertain to the ombudsman's duties;
• Reorganizes and creates a new provision that pertains to the office's access to information necessary to conduct an independent review of a complaint;
• Reorganizes and creates a new provision focused on the office's and ombudsman's duty to confidentiality; and
• Provides the office access to residential child care facilities and facilities established and operated by the department of human services (facilities). The office may only access facilities in coordination with the facility directors in response to a request from a child or youth residing in the facility; in response to a request from a child's or youth's family member, caregiver, or other concerned individual; or to distribute materials created by the office informing children or youth on how to access the office, the office's services, and how to file a complaint with the office.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)