House Education Committee hears bill to allow school liaisons with child protective services

The House Education Committee on a public hearing reviewed House Bill 1095, a measure sponsored by Representative Dwight Kiefert that would allow school districts to designate a child protective services liaison to serve as a formal point of contact between schools and the Department of Health and Human Services’ CPS units.

Representative Dwight Kiefert, the bill sponsor, said the measure is intended to “establish a line of communications between the school system and protective services.” He described situations in which school staff observe signs of possible abuse — “If Johnny comes to school with a black eye and a broken arm, the only thing they can do is submit another report” — and said the bill would give districts an optional tool to follow up without supplanting CPS authority.

Supporters included written testimony from school superintendents…