Bill would allow stipends for DCYF Oversight Board members with lived experience

Senate Bill 51-99, heard June 25 by the Senate Human Services Committee, would allow members of the Department of Children, Youth and Families Oversight Board who have "direct lived experience" to receive compensation and travel reimbursement similar to other part-time state advisory boards.

Sen. Claire Wilson, who introduced the bill, told the committee the Oversight Board includes 21 members — a mix of legislators, tribal representatives, subject-matter experts, practitioners, stakeholder representatives and a set of seats reserved for people with lived experience, including a current or former foster youth under 25 and "one individual 25 or older with current or prior experience with the juvenile justice system." Under current law, board members are reimbursed for authorized travel but do not receive stipends; SB 51-99 would align board compensation with statutory provisions that authorize stipends up to $200 per day for members of other part‑time advisory bodies who are low-income or have lived experience.

Rep. Ortiz-Self asked whether the board currently includes a biological parent who has been reunified with a child or who has had parental rights terminated; Sen. Wilson said she would review the statutory membership list and follow up. Senators and committee members described the bill as a statutory cleanup to enact a practice already established for other advisory boards and as recognition of the time and cost borne by volunteers with lived experience.

The committee took no vote. Sponsors and members said they would continue outreach to ensure statutory membership language captures the intended lived‑experience voices and to confirm administrative details around implementation.