Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Child Welfare Engagement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances bill to create statewide youth, family and caregiver engagement initiative
Summary
The Family and Children Committee advanced House Bill 1098, which would require the Commission on Improving the Status of Children to create and staff a statewide engagement initiative and provide staff support to the Youth Justice Oversight Committee; the bill was recommitted to appropriations after a 7-0 voice vote.
The Family and Children Committee advanced House Bill 1098, which would require the Commission on Improving the Status of Children to create and staff a statewide youth, family and caregiver engagement initiative and to provide staff to the oversight body for juvenile justice.
Senator Jackson presented the bill, saying it would help the commission “increase their effectiveness, participating in the process of policy with impact to children and youth,” and that “every child should have a safe and nurturing environment.” Mark Fairchild, executive director of the Commission on Improving the Status of Children, told the committee the commission was created in 2013 to coordinate work across state agencies and reduce duplication of services.
An amendment adopted in committee (amendment No. 2) directs the commission to solicit direct feedback from youth, families and caregivers to inform recommendations on points of complexity and inefficiency in child-serving systems, duplication of services, possible consolidation, improving time to permanency and reducing trauma from systems involvement. Committee members discussed overlap with House Bill 1273, which focuses primarily on the Department of Child Services, courts and provider relationships; Fairchild said the two efforts are intended to be coordinated rather than duplicative.
After discussion, Senator Jackson moved that the bill, as amended, be recommitted to the Appropriations Committee. A second was recorded and the committee called the roll. Senators Ford, Spencer, Schmidt, Gaskell, Rogers, Goode and Chairman Walker were recorded as voting yes; the committee reported the motion 7-0 in favor with a recommit to appropriations.
The committee did not adopt any policy language that would take effect immediately; the committee’s action was a procedural recommit to appropriations for further review. Committee leadership closed the item and noted this was the panel’s final Family and Children Committee meeting for the interim.
Votes at a glance - Motion: “Move the bill as amended, with a recommit to appropriations.” Mover: Senator Jackson. Second: not specified in the transcript. Outcome: Recommitted to Appropriations (7 yes, 0 no). Recorded yes votes: Senator Ford; Senator Spencer; Senator Schmidt; Senator Gaskell; Senator Rogers; Senator Goode; Chairman Walker.
