Committee approves SB 259 "Ridge’s Law" to give families access to independent medical reviews in suspected-abuse cases

Senator Brass, sponsor of Senate Bill 259, told the Judiciary—Juvenile Committee that the bill—now called "Ridge’s Law"—was filed after a constituent's child was taken into temporary custody following a hospital evaluation and remained separated from family for more than a year and a half. "I'm bringing you SB 259, also now known as Ridges Law," Brass said, describing a case in which a 6-week-old infant was removed from his family and returned only after 15 months.

The bill requires that when a child is taken into temporary custody for an investigation of alleged abuse the family may, at their own expense, obtain an independent medical evaluation or a pediatric specialty consultation. It also directs hospitals to record whether a child's prior medical records were reviewed and to log that review in the department's internal system (referred to in committee as SHINES); if a review was not completed, the hospital must record the reason and the record of that decision. Senator Brass said the bill also requires the attending doctor to notify families of their right to request a second opinion.

The committee heard extended testimony from multiple parents who said they had been separated from children after hospital staff or a child-abuse specialist concluded abuse. Bailey Collins, who identified herself as…