H.B. 383 Summary

• Establishes a Child Welfare Services Task Force within the Department of Human Services to review the Child Welfare Services Branch and examine best practices for improving child care safety.

• Task force membership includes the Director of Human Services (chair), Child Welfare Services Branch administrator, representatives from child care licensing, attorney general's office, county police departments, and U.S. Department of Defense Family Advocacy program.

• Task force shall recommend additional members from stakeholder groups including current or former foster youth, resource caregivers, biological parents of foster youth, and frontline social workers.

• Task force duties include requesting worker input on workplace improvements, seeking state matching funds for federal funding, developing worker recruitment and retention methods, and evaluating child abuse investigations for improvement opportunities.

• Task force must submit findings and recommendations to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the 2020 regular session and shall dissolve on June 30, 2020.