Bill > LD1261

Introduced Session

This bill establishes a 2-year pilot program in the Department of Health and Human Services to award contracts to 4 child abuse and neglect prevention councils in this State for a community navigator position within each council. The bill requires community navigators to work with families who have been reported to the department for suspected child abuse or neglect but have been determined by the department to not meet the criteria for a child protective services investigation. Community navigators are required to help connect these families with community services as needed. Under the bill, community navigators are required to provide outreach and education to mandated reporters of suspected child abuse or neglect to enhance their knowledge of available community services for families and how to connect families with those services. The educational outreach must also provide mandated reporters with guidelines for working directly with families in need to help shift the role of mandated reporters from just reporting suspected child abuse or neglect to actively supporting families in need. The bill requires the department to provide funding for the community navigators in the amount of $90,000 per position, per year, for both year one and year 2 of the pilot program. The department must determine to which child abuse and neglect councils the contracts are awarded based on which child abuse and neglect prevention councils are most prepared to participate in the pilot program.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Michael Brennan (D)*,  Kristen Cloutier (D),  Lori Gramlich (D),  Henry Ingwersen (D),  Michele Meyer (D),  Matthew Moonen (D),  Teresa Pierce (D),  Holly Sargent (D),  Dan Shagoury (D), 

CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800. (on 06/25/2025)

Official Document