HB 1842 -- JOINT COMMITTEE ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

SPONSOR:  Lant

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Children
and Families by a vote of 14 to 0.

This bill establishes the Joint Committee on Child Abuse and
Neglect of the General Assembly composed of seven members of the
House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker and Minority
Floor Leader and seven members of the Senate appointed by the
President Pro Tem and the Minority Floor Leader.

The joint committee is required to:

(1)  Make a continuing study and analysis of the state child
abuse and neglect reporting and investigation system;

(2)  Devise a plan for improving the structured decision making
regarding the removal of a child from a home;

(3)  Determine the additional personnel and resources necessary
to adequately protect children in this state and improve their
welfare and the welfare of families;

(4)  Address the need for additional foster care homes and to
improve the quality of care provided to abused and neglected
children in the custody of the state;

(5)  Determine from its study and analysis the need for changes
in statutory law;

(6)  Make any recommendation to the General Assembly necessary to
provide adequate protection for the children of our state;

(7)  Meet within 30 days after its creation and select a
chairperson and a vice chairperson, and meet quarterly
thereafter; and

(8)  Compile a full report of its activities for submission to
the General Assembly by January 15 of each year that the General
Assembly convenes in regular session.

The provisions of the bill expire January 15, 2018.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2013, FY 2014, and
FY 2015.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill would be a starting
point to fix the problems that exist in the Children's Division
and provide a stronger framework for addressing the abuse and
neglect of Missouri's children.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Lant; and Missouri
Kids First.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say caution should be
exercised to avoid creating a system that is too rigid or that
creates, instead of solves, problems for Missouri families.

Testifying on the bill was Woody Cozad, Hartland Ministries.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated April 16, 2012 at 10:36 am