2015 -- S 0126

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LC000659

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN,

YOUTH, AND FAMILIES

     

     Introduced By: Senators Goldin, Satchell, Lynch, Conley, and Jabour

     Date Introduced: January 22, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 42-72-15 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-72 entitled

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"Department of Children, Youth, and Families" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     42-72-15. Children's bill of rights. -- (a) No child placed or treated under the

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supervision of the department in any public or private facility shall be deprived of any personal

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property or civil rights, except in accordance with due process.

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      (b) Each child placed or treated under the supervision of the department in any public or

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private facility shall receive humane and dignified treatment at all times, with full respect for the

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child's personal dignity and right to privacy, consistent with the child's treatment plan.

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      (c) Each child placed in a secure facility under the supervision of the department shall be

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permitted to communicate with any individual, group, or agency consistent with the child's

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treatment objectives; shall be provided writing materials and postage; and shall be permitted to

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make or receive telephone calls to or from his or her attorneys, guardians ad litem, special

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advocates, or child advocate at any reasonable time.

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      (d) The department shall adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the Administrative

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Procedures Act, title 42, chapter 35, regarding children placed in secure facilities to specify the

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following:

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      (1) When a child may be placed in restraint or seclusion or when force may be used upon

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a child;

 

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      (2) When the head of a facility may limit the use or receipt of mail by any child and a

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procedure for return of unopened mail; and

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      (3) When the head of a facility may restrict the use of a telephone by any child.

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      (e) A copy of any order placing a child at a secure facility under the supervision of the

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department in restraint or seclusion shall be made a part of the child's permanent clinical record.

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In addition, any special restriction on the use or receipt of mail or telephone calls shall be noted in

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writing, signed by the head of the facility or the facility head's designee, and made a part of the

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child's permanent clinical record.

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      (f) Each child placed or treated in a secure facility under the supervision of the

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department shall be permitted to receive visitors subject to reasonable restriction consistent with

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the child's treatment plan. The head of each facility shall establish visiting hours and inform all

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children and their families and other visitors of these hours. Any special restrictions shall be

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noted in writing, signed by the head of the facility or his or her designee, and made a part of the

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child's permanent clinical record.

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      (g) Each child may receive his or her clergyman, attorney, guardian ad litem, special

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advocate, or child advocate at any reasonable time.

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      (h) No person shall be denied employment, housing, civil service rank, any license or

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permit, including a professional license, or any other civil or legal right, solely because of a

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present or past placement with the department except as otherwise provided by statute.

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      (i) Each child under the supervision of the department shall have the right to counsel,

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and the right to receive visits from physicians and mental health professionals.

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      (j) Each child shall have a right to a hearing pursuant to rules and regulations

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promulgated by the department if the child is involuntarily transferred by the department to any

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facility outside of the state in accordance with the procedure set forth in § 42-72-14.

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      (k) The children's bill of rights shall be posted in a conspicuous place within any secure

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facility for the residential housing of children.

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      (l) Every deliverer of services with whom the department enters into a purchased

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services agreement shall agree, in writing, to observe and post in a conspicuous place, the

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children's bill of rights.

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      (m) Any child aggrieved by a violation of the children's bill of rights may petition the

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family court for appropriate equitable relief. The family court shall have exclusive original

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jurisdiction, notwithstanding any remedy contained in chapter 35 of this title.

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      (n) A child victim or witness shall be afforded the protections of § 12-28-9 under the

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direction of the department of children, youth, and families, and the department shall advise the

 

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court and the police and the prosecutor on the capacity of the child victim to understand and

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participate in the investigation and in the court proceedings and of the potential effect of the

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proceedings on the child.

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      (o) Every child placed in the care of the department of children, youth, and families shall

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be entitled to a free appropriate education, in accordance with state and federal law. Immediately

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upon the assumption of that care, the department shall provide for the enrollment of each child in

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a school program. During the time that the child shall remain in that care, the department and

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appropriate state and local education agencies shall coordinate their efforts in order to provide for

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the timely initiation and continuation of educational services.

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      (p) No person shall be denied access to available treatment for an alcohol or drug related

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condition, solely because of a present or past placement with the department.

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     (q) No child shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry,

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national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socioeconomic status or

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mental, physical, developmental, or sensory disability, or by association with an individual or

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group who has or is perceived to have one or more of such characteristics.

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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 - DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN,

YOUTH, AND FAMILIES

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     This act would create a nondiscriminatory clause under the children's bill of rights for all

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children who are under the supervision of the department of children, youth, and families.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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