HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3780        FILED ON: 1/16/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 146

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act relative to the Department of Social Services..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.The Inspector General shall conduct an investigation of the Department of Children and Families to ensure that all children who interact in any way with the Department, or for whom it may be appropriate to interact with the Department, are receiving the appropriate level of care and attention. The focus of said investigation shall include, but not be limited to, the Department’s compliance with the letter and spirit of Chapter 176 of the Acts of 2008, An Act to Protect Children in the Care of the Commonwealth, as well as the ability under Chapter 176 and other laws of persons with an interest in the well-being of the child to petition both the Department and to the courts to adjust the child’s custody status.

The Inspector General shall report the results of this investigation, along with legislative recommendations, if any, to the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities not later than December 31, 2009, and shall prominently post such results on the Inspector General’s official website.