SB 23-210

Senate Bill 23-210 updates how certain human services are managed in Colorado. It removes the requirement for community boards that were meant to oversee youth services and citizen review panels that handled grievances against child welfare workers, instead directing these complaints to a new office called the Child Protection Ombudsman. The bill also clarifies rules about compensation and expenses for board members involved in human and social services. This bill has been signed into law by the governor and took effect on May 24, 2023, meaning its changes are now active and being implemented.

Official Summary

Section 1 of the act repeals the statute that: Creates in each region of the division of youth services a community board to promote transparency and community involvement in division of youth services' facilities within the region, provide opportunities for youth to build positive relationships with adult role models, and promote youth involvement within the community; and Specifies the number, manner of appointment, and required qualifications of community board members and meeting requirements for a community board. Section 2 modifies the process for the resolution of grievances filed against county departments of human and social services (county department) concerning the conduct of county department personnel in the performance of their duties relating to children who may be neglected or dependent by: Repealing the requirement that a citizen review panel be created consisting of citizens who are representative of the community, have demonstrable personal or professional knowledge and experience with children, and are not employees or agents of the department of human services (state department) or any county department; Requiring referral of grievances that are currently referred to a citizen review panel to instead be referred to the office of the child protection ombudsman (child ombudsman) for review; Repealing grievance review processes and requirements relating to citizen review panels; Requiring each county department to post information about the grievance process on its public website or otherwise provide information concerning the grievance process to individuals involved in the county child welfare system; and Clarifying that the grievance resolution process allows a person who wishes to file a grievance to do so directly to the child ombudsman. Section 3 specifies that if fewer than all the 17 members of the law enforcement community services grant program committee created in the division of local government of the department of local affairs (department) provided for by statute are appointed as of June 30, 2023, the executive director of the department shall determine the number of members of the committee; except that the committee must consist of at least 9 members. Sections 4 through 14 clarify existing provisions relating to compensation and reimbursement of expenses for members of specific boards and commissions that focus on functions related to human and social services. APPROVED by Governor May 24, 2023 EFFECTIVE May 24, 2023 (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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