Harrison County’s Blue Ribbon Committee agreed Sept. 19 to begin drafting legislation and to request a legal briefing to clarify what changes are needed to comply with Olivia v. White, while committee members pressed for interim fixes on foster placements, background-check procedures and protections for vulnerable adults.

Committee members said the group will draft proposed language soon and route it to legislators and their attorneys for review; they asked staff to arrange a Zoom meeting with the state-side attorney identified by Richard Bennett for the committee’s next scheduled meeting on Oct. 17. Members also discussed coordination with hospitals, the attorney general’s office and adult-protective-services staff on elder-care and exploitation concerns.

The meeting focused on practical next steps rather than creating a single long-term plan. Committee participants described the state-level conversation as “big picture,” centered on program-building, while the Blue Ribbon group emphasized immediate, local changes that could reduce court involvement now. Members asked for a legal review of the specific timelines and duties alleged in Olivia v. White so the committee can produce a draft the legislature’s counsel can vet.

Members said several legislators who attended an earlier legislative meeting appeared receptive and engaged; the committee expects to get a draft to those legislators within weeks so the legislators’ lawyers can advise on statutory language. Committee members asked Matt to contact Richard Bennett to confirm the attorney’s name and to request a Zoom briefing on Oct. 17.

Hospital staff and social workers reported increased CPS activity and delivery numbers that they said have raised caseload pressures. Memorial hospital staff reported 20 CPS-related reports in August following nine in July and said delivery and NICU census increases — including patients diverted after closure of a nearby hospital — are expected to raise child-welfare referrals. Memorial staff provided a year-to-date count the committee cited as 123 reports for the calendar year to date.

Placement capacity and background checks drew sustained discussion. Committee members said foster-home shortages are constraining placements and urged restarting a local foster recruitment effort referred to in the meeting as “Rescue 100.” Members also raised concerns that some placements arranged under short-term powers of attorney were not accompanied by NCIC-level fingerprint checks; they said local checks can miss arrests or convictions occurring outside the county and noted the time and cost barriers for fingerprint-based NCIC checks.

The committee discussed licensing and oversight of personal care homes for vulnerable adults. Members reported that state law effective July 1, 2015, requires licensure when a facility houses four or more residents and that operating an unlicensed facility above that threshold is a misdemeanor. They also said that homes with three or fewer residents can operate without the licensing requirements that apply to larger facilities, which can leave regulatory gaps.

Committee members asked staff to invite an investigator from the attorney general’s office and the APS supervisor to a future meeting to discuss elder exploitation, licensing gaps and possible vetting improvements. They also planned outreach to local legislators and public information officers to increase public awareness and to recruit speakers — including medical professionals — for a public radio segment and for the October meeting.

Procedural votes at the Sept. 19 meeting included acceptance of the previous meeting’s minutes and election of a co-chair (Mags), both approved by unanimous voice vote. The committee adjourned with the next meeting set for Oct. 17.

The committee recorded several next steps: (1) draft and circulate proposed legislative language and seek the legislators’ counsel review; (2) schedule a Zoom briefing with the named attorney on Oct. 17; (3) invite the attorney general investigator and APS supervisor to discuss elder exploitation and personal-care-home oversight; (4) pursue options to reactivate the local foster recruitment effort; and (5) continue hospital/ CPS coordination to improve safety-plan development and discharge decision-making.