Committee approves resolution creating child‑welfare and family court reform task force
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Summary
HCR 36, sponsored by Rep. Matt Lockett, calls for a task force to review child abuse, neglect, foster care and family court policy and develop bill recommendations; the committee adopted a substitute and passed it 15‑0.
The House Families and Children Committee adopted House Concurrent Resolution 36 and gave it a favorable expression for the House floor after Representative Matt Lockett described the measure.
Lockett said HCR 36 would establish a child welfare and family court reform task force charged with reviewing existing laws and agency policies related to child abuse and neglect, foster care and family court procedures. The task force is directed to seek input from subject‑matter experts and individuals with lived experience to develop recommended bills for consideration by the General Assembly.
The committee adopted a house committee substitute that changes where the task force report will be sent — moving it to the interim joint committee on Families and Children and the Judiciary Committee now that the Legislature no longer has a separate Health and Human Services committee. Members discussed the possible scope of the task force; Vice Chair Wilson asked whether guardian ad litem (GAL) issues would be included and Lockett said that could be a topic for the task force and its co‑chairs to decide. Representative Deetz suggested the work could be split into two task forces: one focused on family court and one on child welfare.
The committee approved HCR 36 by roll call. The chair announced the vote was 15 yes, 0 no, and recommended the resolution for the House floor.
