1 Findings. The legislature finds that:

I. It is the fundamental responsibility of our society and our state to protect the health, safety and well-being of our children and ensure that every child has the opportunity to live and grow in a safe environment.

II. The independent quality assurance review of the division of children, youth and families (DCYF) conducted by the Center for the Support of Families submitted to the governor and commissioner of health and human services on December 19, 2016 clearly outlined a number of steps that New Hampshire must take in order to better protect our children, including increasing staff, improving training, and improving our laws and policies.

III. While the independent review makes 20 recommendations to make improvements in addressing the safety and risk of harm to children, the review notes "that we do not recommend trying to put into place major practice improvements, enhancements, or new initiatives until there is a solid foundation of adequate staffing and supervision in the assessment area. Otherwise, overloaded staff will not be able to implement and adopt the new practices effectively."

IV. As the independent review further states "that if the State wishes to hold DCYF accountable for protecting the health, safety and well-being of its most vulnerable children, the agency must have the resources it needs to carry out that mission."

V. Understanding that there will be a thorough and time-consuming debate on the implementation of the policy and practice recommendations of the independent review, it is more than reasonable that the state provides appropriations to DCYF in order to provide a solid foundation of adequate staffing and supervision in the assessment area as quickly as possible in order to prevent tragedies in the future and to ensure the safety and well-being of our children.

2 Appropriation; Division of Children, Youth and Families; Assessment Social Workers. Pursuant to the final report of the Center for the Support of Families on assessment staffing recommendations for the division for children, youth and families, dated December 19, 2016, the department of health and human services, division of children, youth and families is hereby authorized to hire a sufficient number of assessment social workers to bring the total number of filled positions to 120, with the intent of reducing the current vacancy rate to at least 25 percent, for the biennium ending June 30, 2017 and the biennium ending June 30, 2019. For the purpose of funding said positions, the governor is authorized to draw a warrant out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. Notwithstanding RSA 14:30-a, VI, the department is hereby authorized to accept and expend federal funds necessary to supplement the general fund cost of said positions, without prior approval of the fiscal committee.

3 Appropriation; Division of Children, Youth and Families; Assessment Supervisors. Pursuant to the final report of the Center for the Support of Families on assessment staffing recommendations for the division for children, youth and families, dated December 19, 2016, the department of health and human services, division of children, youth and families is hereby authorized to hire a sufficient number of assessment supervisors to bring the total number of filled positions to 24, with the intent reducing the current vacancy rate and achieving a supervisor-to-worker ratio of 1:5, for the biennium ending June 30, 2017 and the biennium ending June 30, 2019. For the purpose of funding said positions, the governor is authorized to draw a warrant out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. Notwithstanding RSA 14:30-a, VI, the department is hereby authorized to accept and expend federal funds necessary to supplement the general fund cost of said positions, without prior approval of the fiscal committee.

4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

1 Findings. The legislature finds that:

I. It is the fundamental responsibility of our society and our state to protect the health, safety and well-being of our children and ensure that every child has the opportunity to live and grow in a safe environment.

II. The independent quality assurance review of the division of children, youth and families (DCYF) conducted by the Center for the Support of Families submitted to the governor and commissioner of health and human services on December 19, 2016 clearly outlined a number of steps that New Hampshire must take in order to better protect our children, including increasing staff, improving training, and improving our laws and policies.

III. While the independent review makes 20 recommendations to make improvements in addressing the safety and risk of harm to children, the review notes "that we do not recommend trying to put into place major practice improvements, enhancements, or new initiatives until there is a solid foundation of adequate staffing and supervision in the assessment area. Otherwise, overloaded staff will not be able to implement and adopt the new practices effectively."

IV. As the independent review further states "that if the State wishes to hold DCYF accountable for protecting the health, safety and well-being of its most vulnerable children, the agency must have the resources it needs to carry out that mission."

V. Understanding that there will be a thorough and time-consuming debate on the implementation of the policy and practice recommendations of the independent review, it is more than reasonable that the state provides appropriations to DCYF in order to provide a solid foundation of adequate staffing and supervision in the assessment area as quickly as possible in order to prevent tragedies in the future and to ensure the safety and well-being of our children.

2 Appropriation; Division of Children, Youth and Families; Assessment Social Workers. Pursuant to the final report of the Center for the Support of Families on assessment staffing recommendations for the division for children, youth and families, dated December 19, 2016, the department of health and human services, division of children, youth and families is hereby authorized to hire a sufficient number of assessment social workers to bring the total number of filled positions to 120, with the intent of reducing the current vacancy rate to at least 25 percent, for the biennium ending June 30, 2017 and the biennium ending June 30, 2019. For the purpose of funding said positions, the governor is authorized to draw a warrant out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. Notwithstanding RSA 14:30-a, VI, the department is hereby authorized to accept and expend federal funds necessary to supplement the general fund cost of said positions, without prior approval of the fiscal committee.

3 Appropriation; Division of Children, Youth and Families; Assessment Supervisors. Pursuant to the final report of the Center for the Support of Families on assessment staffing recommendations for the division for children, youth and families, dated December 19, 2016, the department of health and human services, division of children, youth and families is hereby authorized to hire a sufficient number of assessment supervisors to bring the total number of filled positions to 24, with the intent reducing the current vacancy rate and achieving a supervisor-to-worker ratio of 1:5, for the biennium ending June 30, 2017 and the biennium ending June 30, 2019. For the purpose of funding said positions, the governor is authorized to draw a warrant out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. Notwithstanding RSA 14:30-a, VI, the department is hereby authorized to accept and expend federal funds necessary to supplement the general fund cost of said positions, without prior approval of the fiscal committee.

4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.