Senate committee hears bill to publish child near-fatality review reports

Allison Mendiola, the committee staffer, briefed the Senate Human Services Committee on Senate Bill 5977 on January 17. The bill, sponsored by Senator Nikki Torres, would require the Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) to issue a report after a near-fatality review and post it on DCYF’s website in the same place they post fatality review reports, within 180 days of the near fatality unless the governor grants an extension.

Mendiola told the committee that a “near fatality” is a physician-certified event placing a child in serious or critical condition and that DCYF currently notifies the Office of the Family and Children’s Ombuds (OFCO) in prescribed circumstances and may conduct reviews either at OFCO’s request or on its own. Under SB 5977, near-fatality review reports would be distributed to the Legislature, posted publicly, and be subject to public disclosure rules; confidential information could be redacted consistent with the Public Records Act and other applicable laws.

Senator Nikki Torres, the bill sponsor, framed the measure as focused on transparency, accountability and protecting children. “This is not about blaming anyone,” Torres said, arguing publication would help agencies learn from incidents and improve the child-welfare system. Committee staff reported a fiscal note estimating $59,000 this biennium and $58,000 in future biennia, with roughly 13% federal reimbursement.

The committee closed the public hearing on SB 5977; no members of the public had signed up to testify. The chair closed the hearing and proceeded to the next agenda item.

What happens next: The hearing record closed at the meeting; committee staff noted the bills on the agenda were scheduled for executive action later in the week. The transcript does not record a final committee vote on SB 5977 during this session.