Senate Bill No. 869 Summary

• Establishes Joint Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect with 7 members each from senate and house of representatives to study the state child abuse and neglect reporting system, foster care needs, and related statutory law changes.

• Expands Office of Child Advocate authority to file amicus curiae briefs and pleadings to intervene on behalf of children in judicial proceedings at appropriate levels using attorney general resources.

• Extends child abuse and neglect investigation timelines from 30 days to 45 days with specific documented good cause exceptions, up to 90 days for standard cases or 120 days for sexual abuse cases; investigations involving child fatality or near-fatality remain open until completion.

• Requires child care providers receiving state or federal funds to meet health and safety standards including fire code compliance, tuberculosis testing, smoke detectors, and unscheduled monitoring; establishes quality indicator system for parents to differentiate providers.

• Permits foster and adoptive parents employed by the state to use accrued leave for placement and care activities; establishes leave-sharing program allowing employees to donate leave time; extends similar provisions to stepparents.