District of ColumbiaD.C. child welfare agency must tell caretakers about legal help
D.C.'s child welfare agency must give reported caretakers written legal help information when an investigation starts and explain lawyer rights during caretaker interviews.
What it does
When it starts an abuse or neglect investigation, D.C.'s child welfare agency must give the child's reported caretakers written information about legal help available to them.
During an interview with a child's caretaker, the agency must explain their right to a lawyer at certain stages of a neglect case. It must also identify available legal help and a place to make complaints.
Argument forEarly written information could help reported caretakers find legal help while an investigation is starting.
Argument againstUnder these notice rules, caretakers might not hear about the complaint office or lawyer rights until their interview.
More detail
The agency must give reported caretakers written information about available legal help. This covers a child's reported caretakers in D.C. abuse or neglect investigations. The agency must give the notice when the investigation begins.
The agency must explain lawyer rights and available legal help, and identify the Office of the Ombudsperson for Children as a place to make complaints. This covers interviews with a child's caretakers during an investigation. The right to a lawyer applies at certain stages of a neglect case under D.C. law. The agency must share this information during the interview.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 26Law L26-0133, Effective from Jun 11, 2026 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 008887Latest
- May 1Act A26-0312 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 006834
- Apr 29Transmitted to CongressMinor
- Apr 24Returned from Mayor
- Apr 24Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0312Became Law
- Apr 13Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Apr 28, 2026To Governor
- Mar 31Final Reading, CCMinor
- Vote recorded Final Reading, CC. Result: pass.Legislature
- Mar 3First Reading, CCMinor
- Vote recorded First Reading, CC. Result: pass.Legislature
- Jan 27Committee Mark-up of B26-0409 by the Youth Affairs Committee
- 2025
- Nov 19Public Hearing on B26-0409 View Public Hearing Record
- Oct 31Notice of Public Hearing Published in the District of Columbia Register
- Oct 24Notice of Public Hearing filed in the Office of Secretary by Youth AffairsMinor
- Oct 10Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0409 Published in the District of Columbia Register
- Oct 7Referred to Committee on Youth AffairsMinor
- Oct 6B26-0409 Introduced by Councilmember Parker at Office of the SecretaryIntroduced
Civil Rights & VotingPublic Safety