Senate approves measure to strengthen oversight of child welfare system

FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) - The Senate has passed a measure to reinforce oversight and accountability in Kentucky's child welfare system.

Senate Bill (SB) 85, sponsored by Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, is a decisive step toward ensuring critical investigations into abuse and neglect cases are conducted without obstruction, bolstering transparency and public trust. The bill, which carries an emergency designation, ensure the Commonwealth Office of the Ombudsman has direct access to critical data by removing bureaucratic obstacles that have hindered investigations into child abuse and neglect cases.

"This legislation is about accountability, transparency, and ensuring no case falls through the cracks," said Meredith. "The Ombudsman's Office must have unfettered access to the tools necessary to advocate for our most vulnerable Kentuckians. SB 85 removes unnecessary red tape and ensures the proper oversight mechanisms are in place."

SB 85 builds upon the reforms of Senate Bill 48 (2023), which transferred oversight of the Ombudsman's Office from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) to the Auditor's Office. However, disputes over access to the iTWIST system, a key database containing information on child abuse and neglect cases, led to a court-mediated settlement. SB 85 codifies access rights into law, ensuring no future barriers to oversight.

Key provisions of SB 85:

• Clarifies and strengthens the roles of the Deputy Auditor and Ombudsman.

• Mandates CHFS to prominently display Ombudsman contact information at all Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) offices.

• Grants the Ombudsman direct, read-only access to CHFS group email inboxes, eliminating administrative gatekeeping of complaints.

• Requires state agencies to provide software access to the Auditor's Office to prevent future disputes over data-sharing.

• Strengthens confidentiality protections while allowing the Ombudsman to report de-identified data on abuse and neglect cases.

• Transfers a dedicated complaint phone line to the Ombudsman's Office to ensure public access without interference.

Earlier this week, Kentucky Auditor Allison Ball testified before the Senate Families and Children Committee, chaired by Meredith, to highlight the urgent need for legislative action. She noted that, without these reforms, complaints against CHFS were at risk of being mishandled or ignored, stating, "Right now, the cabinet is acting as a gatekeeper on these complaints. We don't need a middleman--things are being dropped in the handoff."

The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. With SB 85's emergency clause, the law will take effect immediately upon enactment.