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Committee advances bill to publish licensing, inspection status for facilities caring for children in DCS custody
Summary
Senate Bill 2647 would require an online, searchable system listing licensed childcare agencies, their license status and adverse licensing actions for facilities housing children in DCS custody; DCS told the committee it worked with sponsors and the amendment resolved confidentiality concerns and the bill passed.
Senator Roberts and supporters said Senate Bill 2647 responds to audit findings and would create an online, searchable database providing licensing status, inspection information and adverse action history for agencies that provide residential care for children in Department of Children's Services custody.
Roberts said the bill "brings us closer to that goal by creating an ongoing licensing transparency for DCS childcare agencies" and described a web-based system searchable by ZIP code that would show license status and adverse licensing actions while excluding information that would identify individual children or foster parents. Hayes O'Donnell of DCS testified the department had worked with sponsors and that the amendment in question removed confidentiality concerns; DCS indicated it could comply with the amended bill.
Committee members expressed support for increased transparency and for having searchable public information about where children in custody are placed. The committee adopted the amendment and voted to send the bill to the finance committee.
