Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Bill would let courts order parents into services at shelter‑care hearings; supporters say it keeps children safe, opponents warn of service gaps
Summary
Senate Bill 6,308 would permit courts to order parents of young children released at shelter‑care hearings to participate in services or evaluations necessary to maintain safety in the home, and prevent those conditions being used as admissions of abuse at fact‑finding; proponents say it preserves children safely at home, opponents and in‑home providers say services and access are insufficient.
Senate Bill 6,308, briefed and discussed during the committee’s morning session, would authorize courts at shelter‑care hearings to order certain conditions — including participation in services or evaluations — when the court finds reasonable cause that such conditions are necessary to maintain the child’s safety in the home. The bill would also prohibit courts from treating participation in services ordered at shelter care as an admission of abuse or neglect at a later fact‑finding hearing and instructs DCYF to provide referrals within seven days.
Julie Watts,…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
