A.(1) There shall be a state child ombudsman who shall be appointed by the legislative auditor and shall serve at the pleasure of the legislative auditor at a salary fixed by the legislative auditor.

            (2) The state child ombudsman appointed by the legislative auditor shall have knowledge of the child welfare system and the legal system and be qualified by training and experience to perform the duties provided for in this Section.

            B. The state child ombudsman shall act as an independent ombudsman monitoring and evaluating the public and private agencies involved in the protection of children and delivery of services to children, reviewing state policies and procedures to ensure they protect children’s rights and promote their best interest, and safeguarding the welfare of children through educational advocacy, system reform, public awareness, and training.

            C. The state child ombudsman shall have all of the following duties and responsibilities:

            (1) Evaluate the delivery of services to children by state agencies and those entities that provide services to children through funds provided by the state.

            (2) Periodically review the procedures established by any state agency providing services to children, with a view toward the rights, welfare, and safety of the children, and recommend revisions to the procedures.

            (3) Review complaints of persons concerning the actions of any state agency providing services to children and of any entity that provides services to children through funds provided by the state, make appropriate referrals, and coordinate when the state child ombudsman determines that a child or family may be in need of his assistance or that a systemic issue in the state’s provision of services to children is raised by the complaint.

            (4) Act as a liaison for a child or family, including but not limited to advocating with an agency, provider, or others on behalf of the best interests of the child.

            (5) Periodically review the facilities and procedures of any institution or residences, public or private, where a child has been placed by any state agency or department.

            (6) Recommend changes in state policies concerning children, including changes in the system of providing juvenile justice, child care, foster care, and access to physical and mental health treatment.

            (7) Conduct programs of public education, undertake legislative advocacy, and make proposals for systemic reform in order to ensure the rights of children who reside in this state.

            (8) Periodically review and recommend changes in the policies and procedures for the placement of special needs children.

            (9) Serve or designate a person to serve as a member of the State Child Death Review Panel.

            (10) Take appropriate steps to advise the public of the services and purpose of his position and his contact information.

            (11) Prepare a biennial, in-depth report on conditions of confinement regarding children twenty-one years of age or younger who are held in secure detention in any facility operated by a state agency.

            (12) Present to the legislature an annual report on the goals of and projects undertaken by him, within available appropriations, that are consistent with the duties and responsibilities provided for in this Section.

            (13) Notify the senator and representative who represent the district in which a child has died as a result of abuse or neglect, within twenty-four hours of his knowledge of the death of the child.

            D. Any state agency having responsibility for the custody or care of children shall provide monthly notice to the state child ombudsman of the death of a child in its custody or care.

            E. The standing committee of each house of the legislature having responsibility for oversight shall perform a biennial review and evaluation of the state child ombudsman and the provisions of this Section.

            Acts 2023, No. 325, §1, eff. July 1, 2023.

            NOTE: See Acts 2023, No. 447 for funding.