Committee tables bill creating independent Office of the Child Advocate after agency concerns
The committee heard extensive testimony on LD 1893 to convert the child-welfare ombudsman into an independent Office of the Child Advocate with expanded duties; concerns from the Department of Corrections and DHHS about juvenile interview authority, access to records, and DOC age references led the committee to table the bill for redrafting and interagency coordination.
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The Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday reviewed LD 1893, an amendment to establish an independent Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) to replace the current child welfare ombudsman contract. Lawmakers, agency representatives and the current ombudsman debated the office’s authorities, confidentiality protections, advisory‑board powers and statutory timelines before the committee opted to table the measure for further drafting.
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