CT SB00894

Changes the "State Advisory Council on Children and Families" to the "State Oversight Council on Children and Families" with expanded membership including legislators and their appointees, effective July 1, 2017.

Restructures council membership from 19 members appointed by the Governor to a larger body including appointees from the Speaker, President Pro Tempore, and Majority and Minority Leaders of both chambers, plus legislative committee chairs and the Child Advocate.

Increases meeting frequency from quarterly to bimonthly and changes council leadership from one chairperson and vice-chairperson to two co-chairpersons.

Adds new duties requiring the council to monitor and evaluate Department of Children and Families policies and programs, and submit annual reports to the legislature by January 1, 2018, addressing family assessment response implementation, foster care programs, risk assessment tools, and vulnerable child protections.

Requires the legislature's joint standing committee on children to hold informational hearings on council reports and present annual report card findings to the council, with council recommendations considering these findings starting January 1, 2020.