HB 21-1313 CO

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Became Law

Under current law, the office of the child protection ombudsman (ombudsman) has a duty to receive complaints made by or on behalf of a child relating to the child protection system in order to investigate and seek resolution of the complaint. The act extends the scope of the ombudsman's duties to self-initiate impartial and independent investigations and ongoing reviews of the safety and well-being of unaccompanied immigrant children who live in a state-licensed residential child care facility (facility) and who are in the custody of the office of refugee resettlement of the federal department of health and human services. The ombudsman may seek resolution of such investigations and ongoing reviews by referring an investigation and ongoing review to the state department of human services (department) or the appropriate agency or entity and making a recommendation for action relating to the investigation and ongoing review of the facility. The ombudsman may request, review, and receive copies of information, records, or documents that the ombudsman deems necessary to conduct a thorough and independent investigation and ongoing review of the facility. The ombudsman shall report the results of the investigation and ongoing review in the ombudsman's annual report.The act requires the facility to notify the ombudsman and the department within 3 days after the arrival of an unaccompanied immigrant child.The act permits the department and the ombudsman to coordinate site visits to investigate and review a facility. The department and the ombudsman may share final reports based on their site visits.For the 2021-22 state fiscal year, $90,600 is appropriated from the general fund to the judicial department and provides 0.9 FTE for use by the office of the child protection ombudsman to implement the act.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

• Adrienne Benavidez Democratic · primary
• Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez · primary
• Julie Gonzales Democratic · primary

1. Jul 2, 2021 Governor Signed · executive
2. Jun 23, 2021 Sent to the Governor · executive
3. Jun 23, 2021 Signed by the Speaker of the House · lower
4. Jun 23, 2021 Signed by the President of the Senate · upper
5. Jun 4, 2021 Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments · upper
6. Jun 3, 2021 Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments · upper
7. Jun 3, 2021 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole · upper
8. May 27, 2021 Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Refer Unamended to Appropriations · upper
9. May 24, 2021 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs · upper
10. May 24, 2021 House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments · lower
11. May 22, 2021 House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments · lower
12. May 21, 2021 House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee · lower
13. May 21, 2021 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole · lower
14. May 18, 2021 House Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to Appropriations · lower
15. May 12, 2021 Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary · lower

The published texts of this bill as it moves through the legislature. Each links to the official document on the state legislature site. Data from OpenStates.

• Signed Act (07/02/2021) · PDF
• Final Act (06/22/2021) · PDF
• Rerevised (06/04/2021) · PDF
• Revised (06/03/2021) · PDF
• Reengrossed (05/24/2021) · PDF
• Engrossed (05/21/2021) · PDF
• Introduced (05/12/2021) · PDF
• PA2 (05/21/2021) · PDF
• PA1 (05/19/2021) · PDF
• Committee Amendment · PDF