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| Senator Suzio |
Lawmakers Applaud State Senate Passage of Legislation to Enhance Oversight of the Department of Children and Families
Hartford – Republican and Democrat state senators are applauding the state Senate’s
unanimous passage of a bill to enhance oversight of the Department of Children and Families (DCF).
Senate Bill No. 894,
passed in the early morning hours of May 18, will establish a State
Oversight Council on Children and Families to independently monitor and
analyze DCF operations and make recommendations to the agency and
legislature for improvements to the state’s child
welfare programs.
“The state must do more to ensure that we are meeting the needs of the most vulnerable children in our care,” said
Senator Len Suzio (R-Meriden), Co-Chair of the Committee on Children
who provided amended language for the bill alongside Senator Marilyn
Moore (D-Bridgeport), Co-chair of the Committee on Children. “Creating
an independent council made up of experts
from many different backgrounds is a key step to ensure proper
oversight and evaluations are in place. I want to thank Sen. Moore for
her passionate advocacy on behalf of Connecticut’s children and for
reaching across the aisle to move this imperative bill
forward. This bill represents a united bipartisan effort to do what is
right for Connecticut’s children.”
“It’s
important to have legislative structures in place as Connecticut moves
closer to compliance with the Juan F. consent decree,” said
Senator Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport), Co-chair of the Committee on Children.
“Our ability to protect and provide for the most vulnerable children in
our state will be strengthened with an independent oversight council
comprised of members with diverse
and multi-disciplinary backgrounds.”
“There
is no greater obligation of state government than to protect our most
vulnerable citizens from harm. That includes children under the care of
the Department
of Children and Families,” said Senate Republican President Pro Tempore Len Fasano (R-North Haven),
who proposed legislation to establish an independent council this year.
“Sadly, in recent years our state has struggled to meet the needs of
many children.
We can and must do better than this. This new council is an important
step forward to allow for the legislature and stakeholders to work in a
collaborative way to improve child safety. I thank Senator Len Suzio and
Senator Marilyn Moore for their strong leadership
on this legislation. I applaud the Senate for working in a bipartisan
manner to pass this bill with unanimous support.”
The
new council will replace the State Advisory Council on Children and
Families with an independent council that has statutory authority to
monitor, track and evaluate
DCF and effectuate changes. The new council will include appointees of
the legislative branch and child advocates. It will have the ability to
submit recommended policy changes to the legislature to improve safety,
permanency and well-being outcomes for children
and youths.
The
council will be required to submit an annual report to the legislature
that provides information on agency policies, practices and the impact
of current policies
on children and outcomes. The council can also include legislative
recommendations to improve state supports for the most vulnerable
children in their annual report.
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