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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 bill status shows it passed both chambers but reached final enrollment without showing executive action; effective date is set by text to July 1, 2026.

Hiring More Staff for the Office of the Child Advocate

This law requires the Office of the Child Advocate to hire one or more full-time employees starting July 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Office of the Child Advocate to hire one or more full-time employees for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027.
  • Directs new staff to assist in evaluating services provided to children by state agencies and entities funded by the state.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Office of the Child Advocate
  • State agencies that provide services to children
  • Entities receiving state funds to provide child-related services

Terms To Know

Office of the Child Advocate
A government office required by this law to hire new staff.
Fiscal year ending June 30, 2027
The one-year period starting July 1, 2026, during which the hiring must occur.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify exactly how many employees will be hired beyond a minimum of one.
  • The text does not list specific job titles or detailed duties for these new workers other than general evaluation assistance.
  • No information is provided about the funding source to pay these salaries.

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