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HB05271 • 2026

AN ACT REQUIRING THE OFFICE OF THE CHILD ADVOCATE TO HIRE CERTAIN ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES.

AN ACT REQUIRING THE OFFICE OF THE CHILD ADVOCATE TO HIRE CERTAIN ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES.

Children Labor
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Committee on Children
Last action
2026-03-05
Official status
Favorable Change of Reference, Senate to Committee on Appropriations
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date is July 1, 2026, as stated in the bill text but was removed from the candidate explanation's 'what_it_does' section.

Law to Add Staff for Child Advocates

This law requires the Office of the Child Advocate to hire one or more full-time employees to help oversee services provided to children in state care.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Office of the Child Advocate to add one or more full-time employees.
  • These new hires will assist in evaluating how services are delivered to children by state agencies and entities that receive state funds for child services.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Children in care of the Department of Children and Families
  • State agencies providing services to children
  • Entities receiving state funds to provide services to children

Terms To Know

Office of the Child Advocate
A government office that looks after the interests of children in care.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact number or roles of new hires.
  • It is unclear what specific duties the new employees will have beyond evaluating service delivery.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-05 Connecticut General Assembly

    Favorable Change of Reference, Senate to Committee on Appropriations

  2. 2026-03-04 LCO

    Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office

  3. 2026-03-04 LCO

    Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office

  4. 2026-03-04 Connecticut General Assembly

    Favorable Change of Reference, House to Committee on Appropriations

  5. 2026-03-03 KID

    Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference Appropriations

  6. 2026-02-20 Connecticut General Assembly

    Public Hearing 02/24

  7. 2026-02-19 Connecticut General Assembly

    Referred to Joint Committee on Children

Official Summary Text

To require the Office of the Child Advocate to hire one or more full-time employees to assist in the oversight of children in the care of the Department of Children and Families.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
LCO 1 of 1

General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 5271
February Session, 2026

AN ACT REQUIRING THE OFFICE OF THE CHILD ADVOCATE TO
HIRE CERTAIN ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. ( Effective July 1, 2026 ) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1
2027, the Office of the Child Advocate shall hire one or more full -time 2
employees to assist in the evaluation of the delivery of services to 3
children by state agencies and those entities that provide services to 4
children through funds provided by the state. 5
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 July 1, 2026 New section

KID Joint Favorable Subst. C/R APP