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Committee returns RS 32‑602 — proposed repeal of Health & Welfare ombudsman — to sponsor after lawmakers raise concerns
Summary
A bill to repeal a statutory ombudsman for the Department of Health and Welfare was introduced on the floor of the House State Affairs Committee and then returned to the sponsor after members expressed concern about the position's role for foster parents and uncertainty about whether it was funded.
Representative Joe Alfieri introduced RS 32‑602, a draft intended to repeal a statutory provision related to an ombudsman position (discussion referenced section 67, 60 2601 and chapter 19, title 56). Alfieri described the measure as an attempt to align statutory text with current budget actions, saying he believed the position had been unfunded in the last budget.
Several committee members pushed back. Representative Boyle described testimony she had heard supporting the ombudsman role as a resource for foster parents, saying the position was intended to provide a place foster parents could call "if they were having problems with the social worker." Boyle recounted testimony alleging serious failures in individual cases and said removing the ombudsman could leave foster parents without an avenue for help.
Representative Crane and others said they wanted more information from JFAC (the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee) and Health and Welfare before moving the RS to a full hearing. At one point the committee learned that the director of Health and Welfare texted Representative Boyle to say the position "was funded last year," contradicting the information given to the RS sponsor.
Given the outstanding questions about the office's intended role, whether it had been funded and how the change would affect foster‑care oversight, Representative Mickelson moved to return the RS to the sponsor. The committee approved the substitute motion to return RS 32‑602 to the sponsor on a voice vote.
Why it matters: The ombudsman position was described in committee testimony as a potential safety net for foster parents and children; lawmakers voiced concern that statutory repeal without full information about funding and function could remove an oversight option. Committee members said they would not schedule a full hearing on the RS until they received clarifying information from JFAC and the Department of Health and Welfare.
What's next: RS 32‑602 was returned to the sponsor for more work. The sponsor and committee staff will gather information on the ombudsman's statutory duties, funding status, and real‑world role before the RS can proceed to a hearing or bill printing.
