Bill > H111

This bill establishes a special commission to address injuries to both young people in the care of the Department of Youth Services (DYS) and the DYS staff themselves, particularly those resulting from violence. The commission will examine current practices related to client assaults on staff and client-on-client violence, review existing or absent restraint policies and procedures, and evaluate the training provided to staff on these matters. It will also assess how the DYS documents assaults and informs staff and clients about reporting procedures, as outlined in a 2013 agreement with a union. The commission is tasked with identifying weaknesses in policies that could lead to client injuries and recommending improvements. Furthermore, in collaboration with other state agencies, it will collect and report specific statistics for fiscal years 2012 through 2015, including the number of injuries to clients and staff from assaults, the number of child abuse investigations ("51A" investigations) initiated against DYS staff, the outcomes of these investigations, staff placed on a "Registry of Alleged Perpetrators," and the estimated costs to the state from staff injuries due to violence. The commission will be composed of members from the House of Representatives and the Senate, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Commissioner of DYS, union representatives from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 93 with experience in secure DYS programs, and an employee from the Department of Children and Families (DCF) with experience in 51A investigations involving juvenile offenders. The commission is required to submit its findings and recommendations by June 1, 2016, to the Governor, legislative committees, and the executive director of AFSCME Council 93.