2015 -- H 6016

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LC002290

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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 DELINQUENT AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN -- PROCEEDINGS IN

FAMILY COURT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Azzinaro, McNamara, Naughton, Canario, and Diaz

     Date Introduced: April 01, 2015

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 14-1-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 14-1 entitled "Proceedings

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in Family Court" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     14-1-6. Retention of jurisdiction. -- (a) When the court shall have obtained jurisdiction

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over any child prior to the child having attained the age of eighteen (18) years by the filing of a

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petition alleging that the child is wayward or delinquent pursuant to § 14-1-5, the child shall,

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except as specifically provided in this chapter, continue under the jurisdiction of the court until he

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or she becomes nineteen (19) years of age, unless discharged prior to turning nineteen (19). When

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the court shall have obtained jurisdiction over any child prior to the child's eighteenth (18th)

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birthday by the filing of a miscellaneous petition or a petition alleging that the child is dependent,

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neglected and abused pursuant to §§ 14-1-5 and 40-11-7 or 42-72-14, including any child under

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the jurisdiction of the family court on petitions filed and/or pending before the court prior to July

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1, 2007, the child shall, except as specifically provided in this chapter, continue under the

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jurisdiction of the court until he or she becomes eighteen (18) years of age; provided, that at least

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six (6) months prior to a child turning eighteen (18) years of age, the court shall require the

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department of children, youth, and families to provide a description of the transition services

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including the child's housing, health insurance, education and/or employment plan, available

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mentors and continuing support services, including workforce supports and employment services

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afforded the child in placement or a detailed explanation as to the reason those services were not

 

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offered; provided. The details of a child's transition plan shall be developed in consultation with

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the child, wherever possible and approved by the court prior to the dismissal of an abuse, neglect,

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dependency or miscellaneous petition before the child's twenty-first birthday.

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     (b) The court may retain jurisdiction of any child who is seriously emotionally disturbed

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or developmentally delayed pursuant to § 42-72-5(24)(v) until that child turns age twenty-one

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(21) when the court shall have obtained jurisdiction over any child prior to the child's eighteenth

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birthday by the filing of a miscellaneous petition or a petition alleging that the child is dependent,

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neglected and or abused pursuant to §§ 14-1-5, and 40-11-7, or 42-72-14.

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     (c) The department of children, youth and families shall work collaboratively with the

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department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals, and other agencies,

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in accordance with § 14-1-59, to provide the family court with a transition plan for those

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individuals who come under the court's jurisdiction pursuant to a petition alleging that the child is

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dependent, neglected and or abused and who are seriously emotionally disturbed or

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developmentally delayed pursuant to § 42-72-5(24)(v). This plan shall be a joint plan presented to

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the court by the department of children, youth and families and the department of behavioral

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healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals. The plan shall include the behavioral

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healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals' community or residential service level,

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health insurance option, education plan, available mentors, continuing support services,

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workforce supports and employment services, and the plan shall be provided to the court at least

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twelve (12) months prior to discharge. At least three (3) months prior to discharge, the plan shall

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identify the specific placement for the child, if a residential placement is needed. The court shall

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monitor the transition plan. In the instance where the department of behavioral healthcare,

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developmental disabilities and hospitals has not made timely referrals to appropriate placements

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and services, the department of children, youth and families may initiate referrals.

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     (d) The parent and/or guardian and/or guardian ad litem of a child who is seriously

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emotionally disturbed or developmentally delayed pursuant to § 42-72-5(24)(v), and who is

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before the court pursuant to §§ 14-1-5(1)(iii) through 14-1-5(1)(v), 40-11-7 or 42-72-14, shall be

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entitled to a transition hearing, as needed, when the child reaches the age of twenty (20) if no

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appropriate transition plan has been submitted to the court by the department of children, person

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and families and the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and

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hospitals. The family court shall require that the department of behavioral healthcare,

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developmental disabilities, and hospitals shall immediately identify a liaison to work with the

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department of children, youth, and families until the child reaches the age of twenty-one (21) and

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an immediate transition plan be submitted if the following facts are found:

 

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     (1) No suitable transition plan has been presented to the court addressing the levels of

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service appropriate to meet the needs of the child as identified by the department of behavioral

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healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals; or

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     (2) No suitable housing options, health insurance, educational plan, available mentors,

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continuing support services, workforce supports and employment services have been identified

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for the child.

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     (e) Provided, further, that any youth who comes within the jurisdiction of the court by the

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filing of a wayward or delinquent petition based upon an offense which was committed prior to

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July 1, 2007, including youth who are adjudicated and committed to the Rhode Island Training

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School and who are placed in a temporary community placement as authorized by the family

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court, may continue under the jurisdiction of the court until he or she turns twenty one (21) years

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of age.

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      (b)(f) In any case where the court shall not have acquired jurisdiction over any person

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prior to the person's eighteenth (18th) birthday by the filing of a petition alleging that the person

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had committed an offense, but a petition alleging that the person had committed an offense which

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would be punishable as a felony if committed by an adult has been filed before that person attains

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the age of nineteen (19) years of age, that person shall, except as specifically provided in this

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chapter, be subject to the jurisdiction of the court until he or she becomes nineteen (19) years of

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age, unless discharged prior to turning nineteen (19).

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      (c)(g) In any case where the court shall not have acquired jurisdiction over any person

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prior to the person attaining the age of nineteen (19) years by the filing of a petition alleging that

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the person had committed an offense prior to the person attaining the age of eighteen (18) years

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which would be punishable as a felony if committed by an adult, that person shall be referred to

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the court which would have had jurisdiction over the offense if it had been committed by an adult.

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The court shall have jurisdiction to try that person for the offense committed prior to the person

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attaining the age of eighteen (18) years and, upon conviction, may impose a sentence not

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exceeding the maximum penalty provided for the conviction of that offense.

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      (d)(h) In any case where the court has certified and adjudicated a child in accordance

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with the provisions of §§ 14-1-7.2 and 14-1-7.3, the jurisdiction of the court shall encompass the

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power and authority to sentence the child to a period in excess of the age of nineteen (19) years.

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However, in no case shall the sentence be in excess of the maximum penalty provided by statute

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for the conviction of the offense.

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      (e)(i) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the jurisdiction of other courts

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over offenses committed by any person after he or she reaches the age of eighteen (18) years.

 

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     SECTION 2. Section 40.1-5.4-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 40.1-5.4 entitled

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"Division of Mental Health" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     40.1-5.4-4. Powers and duties of director of mental health, retardation and hospitals.

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-- The director of mental health, retardation, and hospitals shall, subject to available

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appropriations, have the following powers and duties:

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      (1) To be responsible for planning and developing a complete, comprehensive and

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integrated statewide system of mental health services; provided that the department's highest

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priorities shall be to provide services to residents with serious mental illness, early and ongoing

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treatment and support for serious mental illness and research into the causes and treatment of

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serious mental illness in the development of the system, the department shall consult with all

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facilities and agencies, both public and private, concerned with the mental health of the residents

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of Rhode Island;

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      (2) To implement the system in cooperation with providers of mental health services;

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      (3) To coordinate the efforts of the department of mental health, retardation, and

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hospitals with those of other state departments and agencies, municipal governments as well as

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the federal government and private agencies concerned with and providing services for persons

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with serious mental illness;

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      (4) To be responsible for the administration of state operated facilities established for the

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diagnosis, care and rehabilitation of adults with serious mental illness and to ensure that there are

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adequate state facilities to provide these services;

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      (5) To have general supervision of all private facilities as that term is defined in § 40.1-

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5-2(3) and to exercise the powers and duties provided for in § 40.1-5-1 et seq.;

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      (6) To establish standards in conformance with generally accepted professional practice

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and to provide technical assistance to all state supported diagnostic facilities, rehabilitation

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centers, community residences, community mental health centers, and other facilities for the

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persons with serious mental illness licensed by the department pursuant to § 40.1-24-1 et seq.;

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      (7) To monitor and inspect to insure compliance with the standards. Provided, however,

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that none of the foregoing shall be applicable to any of the facilities wholly within the control of

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any other department of state government;

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      (8) To stimulate research by public and private agencies, institutions of higher learning,

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and hospitals, in the interest of the elimination and amelioration of serious mental illness, and

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care and treatment of persons with serious mental illness;

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      (9) To provide funding to the various community agencies and private nonprofit

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agencies, in amounts, which will enable adults with serious mental illness to receive services

 

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appropriate to their individual's needs;

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      (10) To take, hold and administer in trust for the state any grant, devise, gift or bequest

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made either to the state or to the department for the use of persons under its care or for the

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expenditure upon any work which the department is authorized to undertake;

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      (11) To establish and maintain a comprehensive program of community mental health

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services, utilizing the community mental health centers and other community mental health

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agencies and to establish standards for the development of these community programs;

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      (12) To exercise the powers and duties relating to community mental health centers in

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accordance with § 40.1-8.5-1 et seq.;

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      (13) To exercise the powers and duties relating to the licensing of community mental

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health facilities in accordance with § 40.1-24-1 et seq.;

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      (14) To consult with and assist the governor's council on behavioral health in accordance

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with the requirements of § 40.1-29;

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      (15) To exercise the powers and duties relating to care and treatment of forensic patients

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in accordance with § 40.1-5.3-1 et seq.;

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      (16) To cooperate with the department of corrections, the courts and local and state law

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enforcement authorities to ensure adequate, fair and humane treatment of persons with serious

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mental illness involved in the criminal justice system.

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     (17) To initiate transition planning:

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     (i) In cooperation with the department of children, youth and families and local school

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departments for any person who receives services through the department of children, youth, and

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families, is seriously emotionally disturbed or developmentally delayed pursuant § 42-72-29

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5(24)(v), and whose care may or shall be administered by the department of behavioral

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healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals after the age of twenty-one (21) years, the

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transition planning shall commence at least twelve (12) months prior to the child's twenty-first

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birthday and shall result in a collaborative plan submitted to the family court by both behavioral

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healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals and the department of children, youth, and

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families and shall require the approval of the court prior to the dismissal of the abuse, neglect,

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dependency or miscellaneous petition;

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     (ii) In cooperation with the individual, the parents/legal guardians and school districts for

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any other person whose care may or shall be administered by the department of behavioral

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healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals after the age of twenty-one (21) years, the

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transition planning shall commence at least twelve (12) months prior to the child's twenty-first

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birthday and shall specifically identify housing options, supportive services, health care and

 

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workforce training or opportunities.

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      (17)(18) To act in the capacity of "state mental health authority" as that term has

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meaning for a coordination of state mental health planning and policy, and as it also relates to

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requirements set forth in pertinent federal mental health laws and regulations.

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      (18)(19) To propose, review, and/or approve, as appropriate, proposals, policies, or plans

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involving insurance or managed care systems for mental health services in Rhode Island or those

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aimed at improving the overall mental health of Rhode Island residents when the proposals,

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policies or plans relate to the publicly administered integrated state mental health service system.

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     SECTION 3. Section 42-72-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-72 entitled "Department

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

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     42-72-5. Powers and scope of activities. -- (a) The department is the principal agency of

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the state to mobilize the human, physical and financial resources available to plan, develop, and

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evaluate a comprehensive and integrated statewide program of services designed to ensure the

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opportunity for children to reach their full potential. The services include prevention, early

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intervention, out-reach, placement, care and treatment, and after-care programs; provided,

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however, that the department notifies the state police and cooperates with local police

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departments when it receives and/or investigates a complaint of sexual assault on a minor and

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concludes that probable cause exists to support the allegations(s). The department also serves as

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an advocate for the needs of children.

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      (b) To accomplish the purposes and duties, as set forth in this chapter, the director is

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authorized and empowered:

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      (1) To establish those administrative and operational divisions of the department that the

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director determines is in the best interests of fulfilling the purposes and duties of this chapter;

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      (2) To assign different tasks to staff members that the director determines best suit the

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purposes of this chapter;

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      (3) To establish plans and facilities for emergency treatment, relocation and physical

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custody of abused or neglected children which may include, but are not limited to,

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homemaker/educator child case aides, specialized foster family programs, day care facilities,

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crisis teams, emergency parents, group homes for teenage parents, family centers within existing

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community agencies, and counseling services;

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      (4) To establish, monitor, and evaluate protective services for children including, but not

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limited to, purchase of services from private agencies and establishment of a policy and

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procedure manual to standardize protective services;

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      (5) To plan and initiate primary and secondary treatment programs for abused and

 

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neglected children;

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      (6) To evaluate the services of the department and to conduct periodic comprehensive

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needs assessment;

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      (7) To license, approve, monitor, and evaluate all residential and non-residential child

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care institutions, group homes, foster homes, and programs;

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      (8) To recruit and coordinate community resources, public and private;

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      (9) To promulgate rules and regulations concerning the confidentiality, disclosure and

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expungement of case records pertaining to matters under the jurisdiction of the department;

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      (10) To establish a minimum mandatory level of twenty (20) hours of training per year

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and provide ongoing staff development for all staff; provided, however, all social workers hired

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after June 15, 1991, within the department shall have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in social

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work or a closely related field, and must be appointed from a valid civil service list;

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      (11) To establish procedures for reporting suspected child abuse and neglect pursuant to

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chapter 11 of title 40;

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      (12) To promulgate all rules and regulations necessary for the execution of departmental

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powers pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act, chapter 35 of title 42;

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      (13) To provide and act as a clearinghouse for information, data and other materials

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relative to children;

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      (14) To initiate and carry out studies and analysis which will aid in solving local,

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regional and statewide problems concerning children;

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      (15) To represent and act on behalf of the state in connection with federal grant programs

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applicable to programs for children in the functional areas described in this chapter;

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      (16) To seek, accept, and otherwise take advantage of all federal aid available to the

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department, and to assist other agencies of the state, local agencies, and community groups in

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taking advantage of all federal grants and subventions available for children;

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      (17) To review and coordinate those activities of agencies of the state and of any

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political subdivision of the state which affect the full and fair utilization of community resources

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for programs for children, and initiate programs that will help assure utilization;

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      (18) To administer the pilot juvenile restitution program, including the overseeing and

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coordinating of all local community based restitution programs, and the establishment of

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procedures for the processing of payments to children performing community service; and

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      (19) To adopt rules and regulations which:

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      (i) For the twelve (12) month period beginning on October 1, 1983, and for each

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subsequent twelve (12) month period, establish specific goals as to the maximum number of

 

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children who will remain in foster care for a period in excess of two (2) years; and

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      (ii) Are reasonably necessary to implement the child welfare services and foster care

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programs;

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      (20) May establish and conduct seminars for the purpose of educating children regarding

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sexual abuse;

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      (21) To establish fee schedules by regulations for the processing of requests from

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adoption placement agencies for adoption studies, adoption study updates, and supervision related

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to interstate and international adoptions. The fee shall equal the actual cost of the service(s)

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rendered, but in no event shall the fee exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000);

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      (22) To be responsible for the education of all children who are placed, assigned, or

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otherwise accommodated for residence by the department in a state operated or supported

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community residence licensed by a Rhode Island state agency. In fulfilling this responsibility the

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department is authorized to enroll and pay for the education of students in the public schools or,

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when necessary and appropriate, to itself provide education in accordance with the regulations of

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the board of regents for elementary and secondary education either directly or through contract;

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      (23) To develop multidisciplinary service plans, in conjunction with the department of

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health, at hospitals prior to the discharge of any drug-exposed babies. The plan requires the

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development of a plan using all health care professionals.

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      (24) To be responsible for the delivery of appropriate mental health services to seriously

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emotionally disturbed children and children with functional developmental disabilities.

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Appropriate mental health services may include hospitalization, placement in a residential

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treatment facility, or treatment in a community based setting. The department is charged with the

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responsibility for developing the public policy and programs related to the needs of seriously

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emotionally disturbed children and children with functional developmental disabilities.

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      In fulfilling its responsibilities the department shall:

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      (i) Plan a diversified and comprehensive network of programs and services to meet the

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needs of seriously emotionally disturbed children and children with functional developmental

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disabilities;

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      (ii) Provide the overall management and supervision of the state program for seriously

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emotionally disturbed children and children with functional developmental disabilities;

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      (iii) Promote the development of programs for preventing and controlling emotional or

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behavioral disorders in children;

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      (iv) Coordinate the efforts of several state departments and agencies to meet the needs of

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seriously emotionally disturbed children and children with functional developmental disabilities

 

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and to work with private agencies serving those children;

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      (v) Promote the development of new resources for program implementation in providing

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services to seriously emotionally disturbed children and children with functional developmental

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disabilities.

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      The department shall adopt rules and regulations, which are reasonably necessary to

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implement a program of mental health services for seriously emotionally disturbed children.

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      Each community, as defined in chapter 7 of title 16, shall contribute to the department, at

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least in accordance with rules and regulations to be adopted by the department, at least its average

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per pupil cost for special education for the year in which placement commences, as its share of

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the cost of educational services furnished to a seriously emotionally disturbed child pursuant to

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this section in a residential treatment program which includes the delivery of educational services.

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      "Seriously emotionally disturbed child" means any person under the age of eighteen (18)

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years or any person under the age of twenty-one (21) years who began to receive services from

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the department prior to attaining eighteen (18) years of age and has continuously received those

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services thereafter who has been diagnosed as having an emotional, behavioral or mental disorder

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under the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual and that disability has been on-

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going for one year or more or has the potential of being ongoing for one year or more, and the

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child is in need of multi-agency intervention, and the child is in an out-of-home placement or is at

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risk of placement because of the disability.

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      A child with a "functional developmental disability" means any person under the age of

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eighteen (18) years or any person under the age of twenty-one (21) years who began to receive

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services from the department prior to attaining eighteen (18) years of age and has continuously

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received those services thereafter.

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      The term "functional developmental disability" includes autism spectrum disorders and

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means a severe, chronic disability of a person which:

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      (a)(A) Is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental

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physical impairments;

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      (b)(B) Is manifested before the person attains age eighteen (18);

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      (c)(C) Is likely to continue indefinitely;

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      (d)(D) Results in age- appropriate substantial functional limitations in three (3) or more

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of the following areas of major life activity.

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      (i)(I) Self-care;

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      (ii)(II) Receptive and expressive language;

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      (iii)(III) Learning;

 

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      (iv)(IV) Mobility;

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      (v)(V) Self-direction;

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      (vi)(VI) Capacity for Independent Living; and

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      (vii)(VII) Economic self-sufficiency; and

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      (e) Reflects the person's need for a combination and sequence of special,

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interdisciplinary, or generic care, treatment, or other services which are of life-long or extended

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duration and are individually planned and coordinated.

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      Funding for these clients shall include funds that are transferred to the Department of

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Human Services as part of the Managed Health Care program transfer. However, the expenditures

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relating to these clients shall not be part of the Department of Human Services' Caseload

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estimated for the semi-annual Caseload Estimating Conference. The expenditures shall be

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accounted for separately.

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      (25) To provide access to services to any person under the age of eighteen (18) years or

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any person under the age of twenty-one (21) years who began to receive child welfare services

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from the department prior to attaining eighteen (18) years of age, has continuously received those

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services thereafter and elects to continue to receive such services after attaining the age of

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eighteen (18) years. The assembly has included funding in the FY 2008 Department of Children,

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Youth and Families budget in the amount of $10.5 million from all sources of funds and $6.0

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million from general revenues to provide a managed system to care for children serviced between

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18 to 21 years of age. The department shall manage this caseload to this level of funding.

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     (26) To initiate transition planning in cooperation with the department of behavioral

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healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals and local school departments for any child

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who receives services through the department of children, youth and families, is seriously

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emotionally disturbed or developmentally delayed pursuant to § 42-72-5(24)(v), and whose care

25

may or shall be administered by the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental

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disabilities and hospitals after the age of twenty-one (21) years, the transition planning shall

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commence at least twelve (12) months prior to the person's twenty-first birthday and shall result

28

in a collaborative plan submitted to the family court by both the department of behavioral

29

healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals and the department of children, youth and

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families and shall require the approval of the court prior to the dismissal of the abuse, neglect,

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dependency or miscellaneous petition before the child's twenty-first birthday.

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      (26)(27) To develop and maintain, in collaboration with other state and private agencies,

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a comprehensive continuum of care in this state for children in the care and custody of the

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department or at risk of being in state care. This continuum of care should be family-centered and

 

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community-based with the focus of maintaining children safely within their families or, when a

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child cannot live at home, within as close proximity to home as possible based on the needs of the

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child and resource availability. The continuum should include community-based prevention,

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family support and crisis intervention services as well as a full array of foster care and residential

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services, including residential services designed to meet the needs of children who are seriously

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emotionally disturbed, children who have a functional developmental disability and youth who

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have juvenile justice issues. The director shall make reasonable efforts to provide a

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comprehensive continuum of care for children in the care and custody of the DCYF, taking into

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account the availability of public and private resources and financial appropriations and the

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director shall submit an annual report to the general assembly as to the status of his or her efforts

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in accordance with the provisions of subsection 42-72-4(b)(13).

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      (27)(28) To administer funds under the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence and

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Educational And Training Voucher (ETV) Programs of Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, and

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the DCYF Higher Education Opportunity Grant Program as outlined in RIGL § 42-72.8, in

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accordance with rules and regulations as promulgated by the director of the department.

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      (c) In order to assist in the discharge of his or her duties, the director may request from

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any agency of the state information pertinent to the affairs and problems of children.

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      (d) [Deleted by P.L. 2008, ch. 9, art. 16, § 2.]

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      (e) [Deleted by P.L. 2008, ch. 9, art. 16, § 2.]

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     SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO DELINQUENT AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN -- PROCEEDINGS IN

FAMILY COURT

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     This act would mandate the development of a transition plan by the department of

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children, youth and families in collaboration with the department of behavioral healthcare,

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developmental disabilities and hospitals for all children, under the jurisdiction of the family court,

4

who are developmentally delayed or seriously emotionally disturbed prior to the child turning

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twenty one (21) years of age addressing housing, placement options, health insurance, education,

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employment services, mentors and continuing support services. It would also mandate transition

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planning for other youth who will be receiving services from the department of behavioral

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healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals after their twenty-first birthday.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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