HB48 Alabama 2015 Session

This bill would establish the Office of the Ombudsman For Child Welfare. The bill would provide for the State Advisory Committee to the ombudsman that would appoint the ombudsman. The bill would provide for the duties and powers of the ombudsman

The bill would prohibit discrimination or retaliation against persons filing complaints with the ombudsman and would provide criminal penalties for violations. The bill would also require protocols and require the presiding circuit judge to establish a protocol committee to recommend protocols for the investigation and prosecution of alleged cases of child abuse

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment

To establish the Office of the Ombudsman For Child Welfare; to provide for the Statewide Advisory Committee to the Ombudsman; to provide for the appointment of the ombudsman and the powers and duties of the ombudsman; to prohibit discrimination or retaliation for complaints and to provide criminal penalties for violations; to provide for a protocol committee in each county for the investigation and prosecution of alleged cases of child abuse; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.