HF3845 Summary

• Establishes the Office of the Foster Youth Ombudsperson, appointed by the governor in the unclassified service, to investigate decisions and actions affecting youth in foster care and promote standards of competence, efficiency, and justice.

• Creates a Board of the Foster Youth Ombudsperson consisting of 15 members including current/former foster youth, adults with foster care experience, attorneys, social workers, and nonprofit professionals to oversee the ombudsperson's work.

• Grants the ombudsperson authority to receive complaints, investigate agencies and facilities, subpoena witnesses, access confidential data, make recommendations to agencies and the governor, and be present at court hearings involving foster youth.

• Prohibits facilities and family foster homes from punishing youth for complaints to the ombudsperson or unfavorably altering placement conditions as a consequence of complaints.

• Appropriates $775,000 in fiscal year 2023 for establishment and operation, with a base appropriation of $726,000 for fiscal years 2024 and 2025.