2025 -- H 5377

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LC001122

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- CHILD ADVOCATE OFFICE

     Introduced By: Representatives Casimiro, Noret, Spears, Donovan, Speakman, Morales,
Roberts, Read, and Chippendale

     Date Introduced: February 07, 2025

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 42-73-2.3 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-73 entitled "Child

Advocate Office" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-73-2.3. Child fatality reviews.

     (a) The department of children, youth and families shall notify the office of the child

advocate verbally and electronically within forty-eight (48) hours of a confirmed fatality or near

fatality of a child who is the subject of a DCYF case and shall provide the office of the child

advocate with access to any written material about the case.

     (b) The child advocate, working with a voluntary and confidential child fatality review

panel, whose members may vary on a case-by-case basis, shall review the case records of all

notifications in accordance with subsection (a) of fatalities and near fatalities of children under

twenty-one (21) years of age, if:

     (1) The fatality or near fatality occurs while in the custody of, or involved with, the

department, or if the child’s family previously received services from the department;

     (2) The fatality or near fatality is alleged to be from abuse or neglect of the child and the

child or child’s family had prior contact with the department; or

     (3) A sibling, household member, or daycare provider has been the subject of a child abuse

and neglect investigation within the previous twelve (12) months, including, without limitation,

cases in which the report was unsubstantiated or the investigation is currently pending.

     (c) The child fatality review panel shall assess and analyze such cases; make

recommendations regarding such cases; and make recommendations for improvements to laws,

policies, and practices that support the safety of children. Each report shall be made public within

thirty (30) days of its completion.

     (d) The members of the child fatality review panel, established in accordance with this

section, shall be subject to the confidentiality provisions of § 42-73-10.

     (e) The child advocate shall publicly announce the convening of a child fatality review

panel, including the age of the child involved.

     (f) The department of children, youth and families shall implement whatever measures are

necessary to comply with recommendations pursuant to subsection (c) of this section within six (6)

months of the recommendation; provided, further, the director of DCYF shall provide a report to

the child advocate, the speaker of the house, president of the senate and governor detailing DCYF's

specific response to recommendations made pursuant to subsection (c) of this section. Reports

required pursuant to this section shall be completed within three (3) months of the date of any

measure implemented by DCYF in response to recommendations pursuant to subsection (c) of this

section.

     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 require DCYF to implement recommendations made by the child advocate

and child fatality review panel within six (6) months and provide the child advocate, speaker of the

house, senate president and governor with a report of the measures taken to address the

recommendations.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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