Children's Ombudsman, Office of; created, report. (SB821)

Introduced By

Sen. John Edwards (D-Roanoke)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Office of the Children's Ombudsman.  Creates the Office of the Children's Ombudsman to provide ombudsman services, including investigation of complaints, advocacy, and information for children, parents, and citizens involved with child-serving agencies. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/06/2011Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/12/11 11101283D
01/06/2011Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
01/12/2011Impact statement from (SB821)
01/12/2011Impact statement from DPB (SB821)
01/19/2011Reported from General Laws and Technology (15-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/19/2011Rereferred to Finance
02/02/2011Reported from Finance with amendment (14-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/03/2011Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/04/2011Read second time
02/04/2011Reading of amendment waived
02/04/2011Committee amendment agreed to
02/04/2011Engrossed by Senate as amended SB821E
02/04/2011Printed as engrossed 11101283D-E
02/07/2011Impact statement from DPB (SB821E)
02/07/2011Read third time and passed Senate (34-Y 6-N) (see vote tally)
02/09/2011Placed on Calendar
02/09/2011Read first time
02/09/2011Referred to Committee on General Laws
02/11/2011Assigned GL sub: #4 Professions/Occupations and Administrative Process
02/15/2011Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/22/2011Left in General Laws

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 1 clip in all, totaling 2 minutes.

Comments

Robert D. Pike writes:

I strongly support this bill. Virgina consistently ranks nearly last in the nation in moving kids in foster care into adoption. I found out why this is when my attempt to adopt two special needs children from foster care was needlessly and permanently cancelled by the Director of a county Department of Social Services office. Now these kids will languish in foster care. As it is, there is no appeal process, not even to the state. The creation of an Ombudsman position would provide venue for appeal when the foster and adoptive placement system fails both kids and parents, as it did for me.

Lisa K. Pike writes:

I was the other parent trying to adopt along with Robert D. Pike, and I heartily concur that the state needs to provide some sort of binding arbitration forum for those of us who, in trying to adopt out of the foster care system, and sent away with no reason offered, even after visiting with two kids several times, including having them in our home overnight several times - and then the county DSS can just say no, and four people are needlessly injured with nowhere to turn for redress of their grievance. If Virginia hopes to creep out of last place in getting these kids adopted, they need a place for citizens to go when the local DSS gets too arbitrary with people's lives.

Gary Hollis writes:

I strongly support passage of this bill. One role of government is to help those who can't help themselves. Foster children are certainly in this category. This bill is in their service and the service of all Virginians.

marshamaines writes:

the purpose of DSS and CPS is to launder federal funds for the state. I've yet to encounter a social worker who actually really acted "in a childs best interest" this is a good bill. Al Gore fundraisers who used Arlington CPS to kidnap an resell Nancy Hey's child, Sabrina - should be held accountable all the way up through the judicial branch members involved in this human trafficking racket.

Rickey Moore writes:

The sad truth is that we need more ombudsmen in the State to hold various other agency's feet to the fire. I'm all for any sort of "daylight" activity in State Government.