Ranking senator accuses DHS of neglect, vows oversight hearings after two children died

During points of personal privilege the ranking member, Senator Busigliano, pressed repeatedly for formal oversight of the Department of Human Services and a court-ordered foster-adoption task force, which he said has not met in two years. He alleged the department’s neglect led to two children starving to death and said court-ordered remedies and payments to families had followed.

On the floor the senator said, "It was court ordered. We spent 10000000 dollars. We had to pay the families, 10,000,000,000." Those numbers were spoken on the floor and are recorded in the session transcript; they were cited by the senator and not verified during the proceeding. The senator said he has repeatedly requested an oversight hearing (dating his requests back to December) and accused the chair of discouraging accountability by failing to schedule or publicly acknowledge the oversight request.

Senator Busigliano said he would convene oversight activity while the legislature is in session and urged the Department of Human Services to appear. The transcript records no immediate response from DHS or a formal commitment from the oversight committee chair during this session.

The floor remarks included strong language and direct accusations. No department official responded in this proceeding and the transcript does not show a follow-up scheduling decision; the senator characterized the issue as a court-ordered matter and said the public will be invited if hearings are scheduled.