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Senator demands oversight after floor remarks alleging foster-child deaths and DHS neglect
Summary
On the floor, a senator used a point of personal privilege to allege two children died of starvation under foster/adoption oversight and demanded a court-ordered task force and the Department of Human Services appear for testimony; the senator said the task force has not met in two years.
After legislative business, a senator used a point of personal privilege to press for oversight of the Department of Human Services and to recount alleged failures in the foster/adoption system. Senator Busigliano (Senator from Polk) said she has repeatedly requested oversight and accused the department of neglect that resulted in two children "died starving." She said a court-ordered task force has not convened for two years and called for hearings while the Legislature remains in session.
"This is about 2 kids that starved to death at the neglect of the Department of Human Services," the senator said on the floor, and later added that the public and the department will be asked to testify. The senator said the state has paid families (stating $10,000,000, and in a later remark referencing $10,000,000,000) and criticized the majority for not scheduling oversight. She said an oversight committee meeting would be scheduled and the public invited.
No department officials responded on the floor during the session. The remarks were made during a personal-privilege period and the senator cited prior requests for oversight dating back to December. The record on the floor does not include any immediate commitment from the Department of Human Services or a scheduling decision beyond the senator's pledge to pursue hearings.
