HB05380 • 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING THE OFFICE OF THE CHILD ADVOCATE.

Children

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: 2026-02-27
Official status: Public Hearing 03/03
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The specific exceptions to confidentiality mentioned in section 46a-13n are referenced but their details are outside this bill's text.

Changes to Rules for the Child Advocate

This law gives the Child Advocate faster access to records, allows private talks with children receiving state services, lets them issue subpoenas if needed, and permits accepting outside money in a special account.

What This Bill Does

Requires agencies to give the Child Advocate necessary records within fourteen days of a request.
Allows the Child Advocate to ask for court orders (subpoenas) if anyone refuses to share required records or testify.
Lets the Child Advocate talk privately with children who receive, are receiving, or should have received state services, keeping those talks confidential unless an exception applies.
Permits the Child Advocate to accept grants and gifts from other governments, private groups, or individuals.
Creates a separate bank account for these funds that does not expire at the end of the year.

Who It Names or Affects

The Office of the Child Advocate
State agencies holding records about children's services
Children who receive, are receiving, or should have received state services

Terms To Know

Subpoena: A legal order that forces a person to appear in court or provide documents.
Nonlapsing account: A special fund where money can be saved and used later instead of disappearing at the end of the year.

Limits and Unknowns

The law does not list specific types of records, only those needed for the Child Advocate's duties.
Confidentiality exceptions exist in another section (46a-13n) that are not fully explained here.

Bill History

2026-02-27 Connecticut General Assembly
Public Hearing 03/03
2026-02-26 Connecticut General Assembly
Referred to Joint Committee on Children

Official Summary Text

To make technical changes to a statute relating to the Child Advocate.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

LCO No. 1891 1 of 2

General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5380
February Session, 2026 LCO No. 1891

Referred to Committee on COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN

Introduced by:
(KID)

AN ACT CONCERNING THE OFFICE OF THE CHILD ADVOCATE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 46a -13m of the 2026 supplement to the general 1
statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 2
(Effective October 1, 2026): 3
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes concerning 4
the confidentiality of records and information, the Child Advocate may 5
request and shall have access to, including the right to promptly inspect 6
and copy, any records necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the 7
Child Advocate as provided in section 46a -13l. Such records shall be 8
provided to the Child Advocate not later than fourteen days from the 9
date of such request. If the Child Advocate is denied access to any 10
records necessary to carry out said responsibilities, the Child Advocate 11
may issue a subpoena for the production of such records as provided in 12
subsection (c) of this section. 13
(b) In the performance of [his] the Child Advocate's responsibilities 14
under subsection (a) of section 46a -13l the Child Advocate may 15
communicate privately with any child or person who has received, is 16

Raised Bill No. 5380

LCO No. 1891 2 of 2

receiving or should have received services from the state. Such 17
communications shall be confidential and not be subject to disclosure 18
except as provided in subsection (a) of section 46a-13n. 19
(c) The Child Advocate may issue subpoenas to compel the 20
attendance and testimony of witnesses or the production of books, 21
papers and other documents and to administer oaths to witnesses in any 22
matter under [his] the Child Advocate's investigation. If any person to 23
whom such subpoena is issued fails to appear or, having appeared, 24
refuses to give testimony or fails to produce the evidence required, the 25
Child Advocate may apply to the superior court for the judicial district 26
of Hartford which shall have jurisdiction to order such person to appear 27
and give testimony or to produce such evidence, as the case may be. 28
(d) The Child Advocate may apply for and accept grants, gifts and 29
bequests of funds from other states, federal and interstate agencies and 30
independent authorities and private firms, individuals and foundations, 31
for the purpose of carrying out [his] the Child Advocate's 32
responsibilities. There is established a child advocate account, which 33
shall be a separate, nonlapsing account. Any funds received under this 34
subsection shall, upon deposit in the General Fund, be credited to said 35
account and may be used by the Child Advocate in the performance of 36
[his] the Child Advocate's duties. 37
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 October 1, 2026 46a-13m

Statement of Purpose:
To make technical changes to a statute relating to the Child Advocate.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
underlined.]