HB21-1272 Summary

• Expands the Child Protection Ombudsman's authority to investigate complaints about child fatalities, near fatalities, and incidents of egregious abuse or neglect, in addition to other child protection service complaints.

• Grants the Ombudsman access to confidential case-specific review reports from the Department of Human Services' Child Fatality Review Team and the Department of Public Health and Environment's Child Fatality Prevention Review Team without cost for electronic records.

• Establishes that the Ombudsman and employees cannot be compelled to provide testimony or have their records subpoenaed in civil or criminal proceedings where the Ombudsman is not a legal party, with exceptions for independently discoverable evidence.

• Requires the Ombudsman to have access to all investigation records from entities including coroner's offices, law enforcement, hospitals, courts, and state-licensed out-of-home placement providers related to child fatalities and near fatalities.

• Mandates that child fatality review teams report findings to the Office of the Child Protection Ombudsman and clarifies information sharing procedures among review teams and governmental agencies.