2014 -- H 8368

========

LC006035

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

____________

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:

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

hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

services, policy implications, and necessary systemic improvements;

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

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

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

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

10.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC006035

========

LC006035 - Page 2 of 2

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - CHILD ADVOCATE OFFICE

***

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

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC006035

========

LC006035 - Page 3 of 2