Bill > HB05380

This bill makes technical changes to the statute concerning the Office of the Child Advocate, specifically amending Section 46a-13m, effective October 1, 2026. The key provisions clarify that the Child Advocate has the authority to request and access any necessary records, including the right to inspect and copy them, to fulfill their responsibilities, with a fourteen-day deadline for provision, and the ability to issue subpoenas if access is denied. The bill also updates language to refer to "the Child Advocate's" responsibilities instead of "his," ensuring gender-neutral terminology, and reiterates the Child Advocate's power to issue subpoenas for witness testimony and document production, with the Superior Court having jurisdiction to enforce these subpoenas. Furthermore, it allows the Child Advocate to accept grants and gifts for their duties, establishing a dedicated, non-lapsing "child advocate account" within the General Fund for these monies.

Education

Committee on Children (Other)

https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB05380&which_year=2026