Senate Bill 14-201 Summary

• Establishes a voluntary advisory work group to develop a plan for autonomous and accountable operation of the Child Protection Ombudsman program, with appointments made by the Governor, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, and Chief Justice.

• Work group must have no more than 15 members (plus the acting ombudsman as non-voting member) and must include representatives from county departments, county attorneys, mandatory reporters, private service providers, foster parents, law enforcement, child welfare advocates, and individuals with prior child welfare system involvement.

• Work group must convene by August 1, 2014, and complete a written plan for an autonomous and accountable Child Protection Ombudsman office by December 1, 2014, with the plan submitted to relevant legislative committees, the Governor, and posted on the state department website.

• Removes requirement that the ombudsman's professional qualifications be determined in consultation with the work group and changes ombudsman duties and powers from being supplementary to the detailed plan to being minimum requirements.

• Section 19-3.3-105 establishing the work group is repealed effective July 1, 2016.