The Select Committee on Children has raised legislation that if enacted into law would revise the process that neglect complaints are confirmed by the state Department of Children and Families. The bill will be drafted and head to a public hearing with the support of Sen. Anthony Musto, D-Trumbull, interim chairman of the committee, along with Rep. Adres Ayala, Jr., D-Bridgeport.
Under the bill, the DCF would have to give the parent without custody of a child a copy of a complaint within five days of notifying the custodial parent.
“Noncustodial parents have a significant interest in the health and well-being of their child, despite their custodial status,” Musto said in a statement. “Parental involvement is important in cases involving the treatment of children. When it’s in the best interest of the child, noncustodial parents should be kept apprised of proceedings.”
“I would like to thank Senator Musto for his support and willingness to embrace this legislation in order to work together on it this session,” said Ayala, who was recently named chairman of Bridgeport’s legislative delegation. “This is a very important issue that I have been advocating for during the last few years, and I am heartened to see interest in moving it forward. I believe noncustodial parents have the right to know when a state agency is in contact with their children, especially if that agency is DCF.”