ATLANTA (March 13, 2015) | A bill that will reform the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) and provide greater accountability in regards to child abuse records and reporting passed the Georgia State Senate today. Senate Bill 138 is strongly supported by Gov. Nathan Deal and was sponsored by Sen. Butch Miller (R – Gainesville). The bill, which creates DFCS advisory boards and establishes specific measures related to case records, passed by a vote of 41 to 3.
“We have been actively working to address constituent concerns regarding the tragic accidents that have occurred this past year. Gov. Deal has made child protection and welfare a top priority for Georgia, and SB 138 will prevent future tragedies and better protect the families served by DFCS. I am pleased to see the Senate support a bill that will facilitate a better child welfare system in our state,” said Sen. Miller.
SB 138 outlines the following operational, data-sharing and record-keeping procedures for DFCS:
- Appointment of DFCS Director: The Governor will appoint the position of DFCS director, with the Senate confirming the appointment. The director would report directly to the Governor; however, the director would be considered an employee of the Department of Human Services (DHS)
- Creation of DFCS State Advisory Board: This Board will be charged with the periodic review and recommendation of proposed DFCS rules and regulations. The DFCS director will submit quarterly reports to the Board prior to, as well as participate in, quarterly meetings.
- Creation of DFCS Regional Advisory Boards: One Board will be created for each of the 15 DFCS regions.
- Change in Size of County Family and Children Services Boards: The size of county boards may be increased to a maximum of seven members from its current establishment of only five members.
- Creation of a File-Sharing and Data Collection System: DHS will develop and implement a system in which to collect and share information related to care and protection of children. DHS will work with DFCS, the Department of Early Care and Learning, the Department of Community Health, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Education, and the Georgia Crime Information Center to establish protocols for data collection and sharing.
- School Access to Records: School officials may be provided access to reports concerning alleged child abuse victims during an ongoing investigation. In addition, foster parents may also access both medical and educational records.
- Creation of a Central Child Abuse Registry: An archive of substantiated cases and reported convictions of child abuse will be compiled into a central registry. The Registry will notify DFCS of investigations and convictions via prosecuting attorneys and investigators. Records will be confidential, and providing false information is subject to criminal punishment.
SB 138 now transfers to the House of Representatives for consideration.
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