2026 -- S 2976

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LC005351

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- CHILD ADVOCATE OFFICE

     Introduced By: Senators de la Cruz, and Rogers

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2026

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     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) Any state agency cited in the report shall submit a written response within one hundred

eighty (180) days to the child advocate, the speaker of the house, president of the senate and

governor detailing the respective agency’s specific response to recommendations made pursuant to

subsection (c) of this section. The written response shall include:

     (1) The recommendations the agency is capable of implementing, within its existing

authority and resources;

     (2) The recommendations the agency will not implement with a corresponding reason why

implementation will not occur; and

     (3) An implementation plan for necessary program planning and practice changes needed

in order to address implementation of recommendations.

     (g) Reports required pursuant to this section shall be completed within six (6) months of

the date of any measure implemented by agencies cited 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 any state agency cited in reports of the child fatality review panel

to provide the child advocate, speaker of the house, senate president and governor with a written

response within one hundred eighty days addressing implementation of report recommendations.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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