Bill > HB2250

This bill requires the Department of Children's Services (DCS) to increase transparency regarding its contracted providers and the use of short-term or interim placements for children in its custody. By January 1, 2027, DCS must publicly release a comprehensive list of all providers it has contracted with in the past three fiscal years to house or supervise children, excluding individual foster parents, detailing the number of youth served, licensing information, the types of youth served (delinquent, dependent, or unruly), the scope of services provided, the amount paid by state and federal funds, and any licensing violations, enforcement actions, or abuse investigations. Furthermore, starting January 30, 2027, and monthly thereafter, DCS must publish on its website detailed reports on children staying in short-term or interim locations, such as hotels or shelters, which are not permanent placements, including the number of children, length of stay, type of location, age, region, adjudication status, and overtime staff hours spent supervising these children. The department will also consult with the comptroller of the treasury to ensure accurate reporting and will include a yearly summary of this interim placement data in its annual report, along with semi-annual lists of utilized short-term locations and their contractors.