HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 588 FILED ON: 1/8/2009
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 115
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Demetrius J. Atsalis
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To the Honorable Senate and House of
Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the passage of the accompanying bill:
An Act establishing an office of family and children's ombudsman.
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PETITION OF:
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Name:
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District/Address:
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Demetrius J. Atsalis
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Second Barnstable
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[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 70 OF 2007-2008.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the Year Two Thousand and
Nine
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An Act establishing an office of family and children's ombudsman.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 6 of the
General Laws, as appearing in the 200
6
Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section:—
Section 214.
There is hereby established an office of the family and children’s
ombudsman under the exclusive supervision and control of a d
irector who shall be
appointed by the secretary of health and human services with the approval of the
governor. The purpose of the office is to provide an independent voice for families and
children who have been placed under the supervision of th
e department of social services.
The position of director shall be classified in accordance with section 45
of
chapter
30, and the salary shall be determined in accordance with section 46C of said
chapter 30. The director shall devote full time during business hours to the duties of the
office. The director shall be authorized, subject to appropriation, to appoint and may
remove such assistant directors and such other employees and consultants
as may be
necessary to perform the functions of the office set forth in section 207. The provisions of
chapter 31 shall not apply to the director, to such assistant directors as the director may
appoint, or to such supervisory positions as the di
rector may create.
The office shall have the following powers: (a) provide an independent resource
for families and children to seek redress of grievances with the department; (b) monitor
the department’s compliance with existing laws, po
licies and procedures; (c) propose
amendments and improvement of existing laws, policies and procedures to promote
family preservation and reunification and children’s safety, well-being and permanency;
(d) serve as liaison among consumers, the de
partment, the general court, the governor and
the children’s bureau; (e) identify and articulate to the general court, governor, public
agencies and the public the needs of these families and children; (f) provide public
information
relative to laws and services affecting the families and children; (g) oversee
the accuracy and timeliness of the department’s reporting of data with regard to those
children, and investigate consumer complaints and recommend to appropria
te authorities
solutions.
