2014 -- H 8368

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LC006035

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - CHILD ADVOCATE OFFICE

     

     Introduced By: Representative Joseph M.McNamara

     Date Introduced: June 20, 2014

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 42-73 of the General Laws entitled "Child Advocate Office" is

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hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections:

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      42-73-2.1.  Advisory committee established. – There is hereby established an advisory

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committee to the office of the child advocate established under § 42-73-1. The advisory

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committee shall consist of nine (9) members, one attorney appointed by the Rhode Island Bar

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Association; one judge or magistrate of the family court appointed by the chief judge of the

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family court; one pediatrician with expertise in child and adolescent treatment or child abuse and

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neglect appointed by the Rhode Island Medical Society; one psychologist with expertise in child

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and adolescent treatment appointed by the Rhode Island Psychological Association; one Licensed

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Independent Clinical Social Worker appointed by the Rhode Island Chapter of the National

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Association of Social Workers; one psychiatrist with expertise in child and adolescent treatment

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appointed by the Rhode Island Medical Society; and three (3) members, one of whom is a youth

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or parent (foster or birth) formerly involved in the state child welfare system, familiar with duties

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established under § 42-73-7, appointed by the child advocate. No one shall be eligible for

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appointment unless he or she is a resident of this state. No member of the advisory committee

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shall be a person who is a volunteer for, a board member of, or is employed by or contractor of,

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any entity or agency subject to the review of, or evaluation or monitoring by the child advocate

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pursuant to chapter 73 of title 42, or who lobbies on behalf of any entity or agency subject to the

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review of, or evaluation or monitoring by, the child advocate pursuant to chapter 73 of title 42.

 

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Each member of the advisory committee shall serve a term of five (5) years and may be

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reappointed at the conclusion of such term. All initial appointments to the advisory committee

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shall be made no later than October 1, 2014. Any vacancy in the membership of the committee

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shall be filled by the appointing authority for the unexpired portion of the term. The committee

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shall elect from among the members a chair and a vice-chair.

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     42-73-2.2.  Duties. – It shall be the duty of the advisory committee to:

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     (a) Provide advice and support to the child advocate related to the duties described in §

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42-73-7. The committee’s duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

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     (1) Establish a regular meeting schedule and form subcommittees as may be appropriate;

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     (2) Meet with the child advocate and staff to review and assess patterns of treatment and

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services, policy implications, and necessary systemic improvements;

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     (3) Provide an annual report on its activities and recommendations in conjunction with

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the child advocate, and submit the report to the governor, the president of the senate, and the

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speaker of the house of representatives, on or by December 31, 2015, and annually thereafter. 

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     (b) The advisory committee shall be subject to the confidentiality provisions of § 42-73-

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10.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - CHILD ADVOCATE OFFICE

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     This act would create an advisory committee to the office of the child advocate.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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