Bill Text: VA HB1168 | 2024 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Children's Ombudsman, Office of the; powers.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-06 - Tabled in Health and Human Services (14-Y 8-N) [HB1168 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-HB1168-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §2.2-442 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§2.2-442. Children's Ombudsman; powers and duties.
In addition to any powers described in this chapter, the Children's Ombudsman has the authority to do all of the following with regard to children receiving child-protective services, in foster care, or placed for adoption and children who may have died as a result of alleged abuse or neglect:
1. Pursue all necessary action, including legal action, to protect the rights and welfare of such children;
2. Pursue legislative advocacy in the best interest of such children;
3. Review policies and procedures relating to any child-serving agency's involvement with such children upon the Ombudsman's own initiative or upon receipt of a complaint and make recommendations for improvement;
4. Initiate investigations of administrative acts of the
Department, a local department, or a child-placing agency in cases relating to
such children upon the Ombudsman's own initiative or upon receipt of a complaint; and
5. Directly oversee local departments, reverse the decisions of local departments, and petition a court to reverse any custody or visitation changes made as a result of the error of a local department; and
6. Subject to an appropriation of funds, commence and conduct investigations into alleged violations of the rights of a foster parent.
