S.B. 1022 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 to improve child care safety.

• Task force composition includes the DHS Director (chair), CWS Branch Administrator, representatives from child care programs, attorney general, county police departments, and appointed members including current/former foster youth, resource caregivers, biological parents, and frontline social workers.

• Task force shall request worker input on workplace changes, seek increased state matching funds for federal funding, identify additional staffing needs, determine worker recruitment and retention methods, and evaluate child abuse investigation procedures.

• Requires task force to submit findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation to the legislature no later than twenty days before the 2020 regular session convenes.

• Task force ceases to exist on June 30, 2020.