HB 2098 Summary

• Creates the Department of Child Safety as a standalone agency (replacing the Division of Children, Youth and Families within the Department of Economic Security) with authority over child protective services, foster care, and adoption licensing.

• Establishes parental rights protections including rights to direct education and upbringing, access medical records, consent to biometric scans and genetic testing, and receive prompt notification of suspected crimes against children.

• Implements confidentiality protections for adoption agencies, foster parents, and child welfare agencies through section 8-502, limiting disclosure of personal information except for specific authorized purposes and permitting legislative oversight.

• Modifies procedures for psychiatric acute care and residential treatment services for children, including independent living programs and tuition waivers for former foster youth in higher education.

• Establishes an auditor general audit team within the Department of Child Safety and an Audit team at the Department of Child Safety to provide ongoing performance reviews and analyses of operations.