Missouri lawmaker seeks to reauthorize joint child-abuse committee, leaves sunset for committee debate

Representative David Dolan introduced House Bill 2901 to reauthorize Missouri’s joint committee on child abuse and neglect, telling the special committee the bill simply removes the statute’s expiration provision so the panel can continue its work.

Dolan said the committee, first established more than a decade ago, studies the state’s child abuse and neglect reporting and investigation system and makes recommendations to improve structured decision-making, foster care availability and the quality of care for abused and neglected children. He said he struck the statute’s termination sentence rather than prescribing a new sunset and suggested members could set an appropriate term by amendment.

The proposal drew questions about resources and oversight. A committee member who asked to remain unidentified during questioning said the Department of Child Services was not present and stressed the need to fund the panel’s work, noting that “there are approximately 13,000 to 14,000 children in Missouri’s foster care system at any given time.” The member urged that reauthorization be paired with resources to make the committee’s reports actionable.

Dolan listed members of the previous joint committee and said turnover among legislators and uncertainty about prior reporting and filing locations made it difficult for him to pick a single reauthorization term. The hearing concluded with no public testimony; the committee closed the hearing and moved on to the next agenda item.

The committee did not take a formal vote on HB2901 at this meeting; proponents and members signaled interest in discussing an appropriate sunset and possible committee resources in follow-up work.