SPECIAL ACT NO. 15-10: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE STATE-WIDE RESPONSE TO FAMILY VIOLENCE.

Substitute Senate Bill No. 303

Special Act No. 15-10

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE STATE-WIDE RESPONSE TO FAMILY VIOLENCE.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a task force to study the state-wide response to minors exposed to family violence. Such study shall include, but not be limited to, (1) an examination of existing policies and procedures used by the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, health care professionals, law enforcement, guardians ad litem, attorneys for minor children and the Judicial Branch for minors who are exposed to family violence, and (2) the development of a state-wide model policy for use by (A) the Department of Children and Families, including organizations with which it contracts services; (B) the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, including organizations with which it contracts services; (C) health care professionals; (D) guardians ad litem; (E) attorneys for minor children; (F) law enforcement; and (G) the Judicial Branch, when responding to minors who are exposed to family violence.
(b) The task force shall consist of the following members:
(1) The Commissioner of Children and Families, or the commissioner's designee;
(2) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, or the commissioner's designee;
(3) The Commissioner of Early Childhood, or the commissioner's designee;
(4) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, or the commissioner's designee;
(5) The Child Advocate, or the Child Advocate's designee;
(6) The Chief Public Defender, or the Chief Public Defender's designee;
(7) The Chief State's Attorney, or the Chief State's Attorney's designee;
(8) A chairperson of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children;
(9) A chairperson of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services;
(10) Two appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one of whom shall represent the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence and one of whom shall be an attorney licensed to practice law in Connecticut;
(11) Two appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall represent the Connecticut Children's Medical Center and one of whom shall represent a multidisciplinary team established pursuant to section 17a-106a of the general statutes;
(12) Two appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, one of whom shall represent the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association and one of whom shall be an adult victim of domestic violence;
(13) Two appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall represent a designated child advocacy center and one of whom shall be a medical doctor specializing in the care of children exposed to family violence;
(14) Two appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, one of whom shall be a currently appointed guardian ad litem and one of whom shall be a psychiatrist or psychologist specializing in the mental health care of children exposed to family violence;
(15) Two appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be a youth victim exposed to family violence and one of whom shall be a currently appointed attorney for the minor child; and
(16) Two appointed by the Chief Court Administrator, one of whom shall be a judge of the Superior Court assigned to hear family matters and one of whom shall represent the Judicial Branch Court Support Services Division.
(c) Any member of the task force appointed under subdivisions (10) to (15), inclusive, of subsection (b) of this section may be a member of the General Assembly.
(d) All appointments to the task force shall be made not later than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority.
(e) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the Senate shall select two chairpersons of the task force from among the members of the task force. Such chairpersons shall schedule the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held not later than sixty days after the effective date of this section.
(f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services shall serve as the administrative staff of the task force.
(g) Not later than January 15, 2016, the task force shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services and children, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. The task force shall terminate on the date that it submits such report or January 15, 2016, whichever is later.
Approved June 30, 2015

For the link to this information, see below:

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2015/act/sa/2015SA-00010-R00SB-00303-SA.htm