Senate committee will introduce companion to child protection bill

JANUARY 18, 2012

The horrific death of Nubia Barahona, a 10-year-old foster child who was abused and neglected by her adoptive parents, moved state Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, R-Miami, to take action.

“It was that case that led to the legislation you have here today,” Diaz told members of the House Civil Justice Subcommittee Wednesday.

His proposal, House Bill 803, would create new training programs for child protective investigators and streamline their electronic record keeping, Diaz said. It would also revamp the procedures for fielding certain calls to the child abuse hotline.

The bill sailed through the civil justice panel Wednesday, and won approval from the House Health and Human Services Access Subcommittee last week.

Diaz said he hopes the legislation will empower child investigative workers “to do what’s right for kids.”

A companion bill will be introduced Thursday in a Senate committee chaired by Sen. Ronda Storms.

Posted by KathleenMcGrory at 4:00:40 pm on January 18, 2012 in

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