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SB 2976

AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- CHILD ADVOCATE OFFICE

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Gordon Rogers and 1 co-sponsor

Establishes a Child Advocate Office-led, public fatality reviews of DCYF-related cases, with 48-hour case notifications, public reports, and 180-day agency response requirements.

04/30/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · SB 2976

Summary of SB 2976 (Rhode Island, 2026) — AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- CHILD ADVOCATE OFFICE

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes and strengthens the role of the Child Advocate Office in reviewing child fatalities and near-fatalities, with formal requirements for transparency, interagency accountability, and public reporting.
  • Aims to improve child safety by analyzing cases where children involved with the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) have died or nearly died, and by mandating agency responses to recommendations.

Key provisions

Section 42-73-2.3 — Child fatality reviews

  1. Notification to the Child Advocate Office

    • DCYF must notify the Office of the Child Advocate verbally and electronically within 48 hours of a confirmed fatality or near fatality of a child who is the subject of a DCYF case.
    • DCYF must provide access to all written materials about the case to the Child Advocate Office.

  2. Formation and scope of the review panel

    • The Child Advocate, in collaboration with a voluntary and confidential Child Fatality Review Panel, will review case records for fatalities and near fatalities of individuals under 21 when:
      • The death/near death occurred in DCYF custody or involvement, or the family previously received DCYF services; or
      • The death/near death is alleged to involve abuse or neglect and the child or family had prior DCYF contact; or
      • A sibling, household member, or daycare provider involved in a child abuse/neglect investigation within the previous 12 months.

  3. Panel duties

    • The panel will assess, analyze, and make recommendations for each case.
    • The panel will propose improvements to laws, policies, and practices to enhance child safety.
    • Each review report must be made public within 30 days of completion.

  4. Confidentiality

    • Panel members are subject to confidentiality protections under § 42-73-10.

  5. Public announcement

    • The Child Advocate must publicly announce the convening of a child fatality review panel and disclose the child’s age involved.

  6. Agency responses to recommendations

    • Any state agency cited in the report must provide a written response within 180 days to the Child Advocate, the Speaker of the House, the President of the Senate, and the Governor.
    • The response must include:
      • Which recommendations the agency can implement within existing authority and resources.
      • Which recommendations the agency will not implement, with reasons.
      • An implementation plan outlining necessary program and practice changes to address the recommendations.

  7. Timeline for reports

    • Reports required under this section must be completed within six months of the date an measure is implemented by agencies in response to the recommendations.

Section 1 – Administrative update

  • The outlined changes update the statutory framework governing child fatality reviews and interagency accountability.

Section 2 – Effective date

  • The act takes effect upon passage.

Who is affected

  • DCYF (Department of Children, Youth and Families): Required to notify the Child Advocate Office within 48 hours of a child fatality or near fatality and to provide case materials.
  • Office of the Child Advocate: Gains authority to convene and lead voluntary, confidential fatality review panels; will issue public reports and coordinate interagency responses.
  • State agencies cited in reports: Must prepare and submit formal written responses (within 180 days) detailing feasible actions, non-implementation reasons, and implementation plans.
  • Public and stakeholders: Access to public report findings within 30 days of report completion, increasing transparency around child safety concerns and policy improvements.

Procedural and timeline elements

  • 48-hour notification window to the Child Advocate Office.
  • Access to case materials for the Child Advocate Office.
  • Public release of each fatality review report within 30 days of completion.
  • 180-day deadline for agency responses to recommendations.
  • 6-month window for agencies to finalize and present implementation plans after the response.
  • Confidentiality protections for panel members, consistent with existing law.

Notes on status

  • As of the latest actions, the committee recommended holding the measure for further study (April 30, 2026), with prior scheduling for hearing considerations in late April 2026. The bill was introduced March 4, 2026 and referred to Senate Judiciary.

This summary highlights the bill’s core purpose, substantive provisions, affected actors, and key timelines, providing a clear overview for readers seeking to understand SB 2976’s impact on child welfare oversight in Rhode Island.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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