Subcommittee backs bill expanding powers and reporting duties of Children's Ombudsman

The House General Laws subcommittee reported SB 125, a bill that expands the powers and reporting requirements of the Office of the Children's Ombudsman.

Presenter Delegate Seabold said the bill expands the office's access to certain records and reports, permits the office to report complaints to the inspector general, requires the office to report findings and recommendations related to failures by state agencies to protect children to the governor or General Assembly upon request (where current law limits reporting to the General Assembly), and updates several related definitions.

Eric Reynolds, who identified himself as representing the Children's Ombudsman and said, "I requested this bill to be introduced," asked the committee to support the measure. Valerie Lee Rue of the Virginia Poverty Law Center also testified in support, saying the center "supports making sure that the ombudsman has the powers needed to carry out the work of the office." The subcommittee moved and seconded a motion to report the bill and the clerk closed the roll to report SB 125.

The bill was previously reported out of the Senate by a 39-0 vote, according to comments in the hearing. The transcript records support from the ombudsman and from the Virginia Poverty Law Center but does not include any recorded opposition in this subcommittee session.