Bill Summary for S 89 (2021-2022)

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Summary date: 

Feb 11 2021

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2021
Senate Bill 89 (Public) Filed Thursday, February 11, 2021
AN ACT TO IMPLEMENT VARIOUS PROVISIONS RELATED TO SOCIAL SERVICES REFORM AND MAKE APPROPRIATIONS TO TRANSITION TO REGIONAL SUPERVISION, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE NORTH CAROLINA CHILD WELL-BEING TRANSFORMATION COUNCIL.
Intro. by Krawiec, Burgin, Perry.

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Bill summary

Requires the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), in accordance with the specified report submitted by the Social Services Regional Supervision and Collaboration Working Group (SSWG) to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services, to establish seven regions for regional supervision of child welfare and social services and begin providing oversight and support in those regions through State regional staff and the central office team by March 1, 2021. Requires specified staffing changes. Requires DHHS to pursue obtaining offices within the regions beginning in March 2023 and requires prioritizing staffing to improve the child welfare system. Requires DHHS to move towards full implementation of a regional model, with offices, by March 1, 2024. Appropriates $914,790 in recurring funds for 2021-22 from the General Fund to DHHS, Division of Social Services, to support new staff positions to improve regional supervision and support of child welfare services under the plan. Effective July 1, 2021.

Amends GS 108A-9 to require members of the county board of social services to attend education and training sessions provided for new members during the first year they serve on the board. Effective April 1, 2022. Requires all current county board of social services members to have participated by April 1, 2024.

Requires the Division of Social Services to collaborate with key stakeholders, including the four specified entities to create formal education and training sessions for new county boards of social services members, including a segment on potential liabilities. Requires the sessions to be available statewide by September 1, 2021.