Idaho Bills

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding the Office of Health and Social Services ombudsman.

This legislation establishes an office of the health and social services ombudsman to monitor and evaluate the compliance of public agencies and private entities in the provision of health and social services policy for children under the care of the state. and vulnerable adults. • The ombudsman will respond to claims related to services provided to children in foster care, protective supervision, or residential treatment facilities in Idaho. •Theofficeoperatesindependentlyofthelegislature, thecourts, theDepartmentofHealthandWelfare(DHW), and other state agencies. • The ombudsman will establish and manage a procedure for receiving, examining, and resolving complaints. • The office will also ensure that service recipients know their legal rights under Idaho and federal law. • The office will produce an annual report on its work, the status of child welfare and adult protective services, alongwithanyrecommendationstothegovernor,thelegislature,thedirectorofDHW,thestatepublicdefender, the courts, and all other relevant state departments. • Complaints submitted to the ombudsman can include events where an agency’s behavior was 1) contrary to law, rule, or policy; 2) imposed without adequate reason; or 3) based on irrelevant, immaterial, or erroneous grounds. • Complaints can be submitted by the service recipient and other biological and legal representatives. • For any individual who interferes or impedes the ombudsman with the duties of the office or retaliates against anyone who files a complaint, that individual will be guilty of a misdemeanor, which includes a fine of up to $1,000 and a jail term of up to six months.