Bill > SF5098

This bill requires that information related to child fatalities and near fatalities be made publicly available on the Department of Children, Youth, and Families website, including a written summary of the cause and circumstances, the child's age and gender, any pertinent previous maltreatment reports or investigations, actions taken by local welfare agencies, and the results of any reviews by child mortality review panels or public agencies. It also mandates that reports from joint or local review teams provided to the child mortality review panel and the commissioner be made public within 60 days of receipt. The bill clarifies that this public disclosure does not permit access to confidential or private data about individuals, psychiatric or therapeutic evaluations, or information that would reveal the identities of those who provided information about child maltreatment. Additionally, it modifies the requirements for the child mortality review panel's annual report, specifying that the report published by December 15, 2027, must include an analysis of aggregate data on critical incidents from 2022 to 2024 to identify trends and inform recommendations for improving the child protection system.