Committee opens SB 915 to require specialized investigators for certain nonparent child-abuse reports; amendment to remove youth detention language expected

Summary

Senate Bill 915 would require the Department of Human Services to assign specialized assessment and investigation teams to reports of child abuse that involve youth residing in correctional/detention facilities or children in DHS-certified foster homes when the alleged subject is not the child's parent. The committee said an amendment will remove

Senate Bill 915 would direct the Oregon Department of Human Services to ensure that assessment and investigation of reports of child abuse are conducted by the program specialized in training, investigations and safety when a report involves youth living in a correctional or detention facility or a child in a foster family or a DHS-certified foster home if the subject of the investigation is not the child's parent.

Committee staff said an amendment is expected that would remove youth detention facilities and the Oregon Youth Authority from the bill’s scope so the immediate focus is on certified foster homes. Sponsors and staff described certified foster homes as the last non-family setting currently investigated by child protective services staff rather than the investigative unit that handles non-family settings.

The measure was opened for discussion and the committee said it will return the bill once the amendment language is available; no witnesses testified on the record during the hearing segment and no committee vote was taken.