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Broad child-welfare bill (SB 43) draws strong support and cautious opposition over cost and scope
Summary
Senate Bill 43, substantially amended in the Senate, would create a right to counsel for certain children, address placements for children with severe behavioral needs, void NDAs in childhood-abuse cases and add other child-welfare changes; witnesses urged funding and raised fiscal and operational concerns.
Senate Bill 43, presented to the House Judiciary Committee by Senator Fitzwater, was discussed at length in a public hearing that featured multiple amendments added in the Senate and extensive testimony in favor and opposition.
Sponsor Fitzwater said the bill started as a foster-care measure and was expanded on the Senate floor to address several juvenile- and child-welfare issues: a right to counsel for children (particularly those 14 and older), a specialized program and liability protections to increase placements for children with severe behavioral needs (including use of existing, underused residential facilities), and amendments on non-disclosure agreements in childhood sexual-abuse cases and other provisions added by…
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