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--- version:Introduced
+++ version:(document, no version)
@@ -1,48 +1,48 @@
-UNOFFICIAL COPY  26 RS BR 1839
+UNOFFICIAL COPY  26 RS HCR 36/HCS 1
 Page 1 of 3
-XXXX   1/21/2026 1:09 PM  Jacketed
+HCR003630.100 - 1839 - XXXX   3/5/2026 1:03 PM  House Committee Substitute
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION establishing the Child Welfare and Family 1
 Court Reform Task Force. 2
-WHEREAS, Kentucky has nearly double the national rate of child maltreatm ent at 3
+WHEREAS, Kentucky has nearly dou ble the national rate of child maltreatment at 3
 14.2 per 1,000 children, compared to the national rate of 7.4 per 1,000 children; and 4
 WHEREAS, the most recent data indicates that Kentucky recorded a total of 14,484 5
 child victims of maltreatment in a single year; and 6
-WHEREAS, the youngest Kentucki ans remain the most vulnerable to abuse and 7
+WHEREAS, the youngest Kentuckians remain the most vulnerable to abuse and 7
 neglect, as nearly 30 percent of the total victims of child maltreatment in Kentucky were 8
 children under the age of four; and 9
-WHEREAS, the total number of children in out of home care in Kentucky is over 10
+WHEREAS, the total number of children in out o f home care in Kentucky is over 10
 8,000, and the total number of children waiting for adoption is 2,792; and 11
 WHEREAS, Kentucky children entering foster care still face lengthy wait times 12
-before achieving permanency, as nearly 30 percent of the children reunified with their 13
-families in 2023 spent m ore than 12 months in foster care, and over 50 percent of 14
+before achieving permanency, as nearly 30 percent of the children reuni fied with their 13
+families in 2023 spent more than 12 months in foster care, and over 50 percent of 14
 children adopted in 2023 spent at least three years in foster care; and 15
 WHEREAS, the average time it takes for a termination of parental rights 16
-disposition after the case filing date is 215 days, pr olonging the child's time in foster care 17
+disposition after the case filing date is 215 days, prolonging the child's time in foster care 17
 before the child is eligible for adoption; and 18
 WHEREAS, the average cost per day for one child in foster care in Kentucky is 19
 $89.28, creating a significant financial impact on the Commonwealth; and 20
-WHEREAS, preventing child maltreatment and safely reducing the number of 21
+WHEREAS, preventing child maltreatment and safely reducing the number of  21
 children in foster care is critical to the well -being of Kentucky families and to the state's 22
 prosperity; and 23
 WHEREAS, the General Assembly is committed to protecting children from 24
 maltreatment and believes that any proposed reform requires comprehensive input from 25
 experts and individuals with lived experience; 26
 NOW, THEREFORE, 27
-UNOFFICIAL COPY  26 RS BR 1839
+UNOFFICIAL COPY  26 RS HCR 36/HCS 1
 Page 2 of 3
-XXXX   1/21/2026 1:09 PM  Jacketed
+HCR003630.100 - 1839 - XXXX   3/5/2026 1:03 PM  House Committee Substitute
 Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the 1
 Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Senate concurring therein: 2
 Section 1.   The Legislative Research Commission is hereby directed to establish 3
 the Child Welfare and Family Court Reform Task Force. The task force shall review 4
 existing laws and relevant agency policies regarding child abuse and neglect, foster care, 5
-and court p rocesses and procedures, seek input from experts and individuals with lived 6
+and court processes and procedures, seek input from experts and individuals with lived 6
 experience, and develop recommendations for proposed legislation to be considered by 7
 the General Assembly. 8
-Section 2.   The Child Welfare and Fami ly Court Reform Task Force shall be 9
+Section 2.   The Child  Welfare and Family Court Reform Task Force shall be 9
 composed of the following members, with final membership being subject to the 10
 consideration and approval of the Legislative Research Commission: 11
-(1) Three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of 12
+(1) Three members of the House of Representatives appointe d by the Speaker of 12
 the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be designated by the Speaker of the 13
 House of Representatives as a co-chair of the task force; 14
 (2) One member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Minority Floor 15
@@ -54,22 +54,23 @@
 (5) The commissioner of the Department for Community Based Services, or 21
 designee; 22
 (6) The director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, or designee; and 23
-(7) Four at -large members appointed by the Legislative Research Commission, 24
+(7) Four at -large members appointed by the Legislative Research Commission , 24
 including: 25
 (a) One family court judge; 26
 (b) One member representing law enforcement; 27
-UNOFFICIAL COPY  26 RS BR 1839
+UNOFFICIAL COPY  26 RS HCR 36/HCS 1
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-XXXX   1/21/2026 1:09 PM  Jacketed
+HCR003630.100 - 1839 - XXXX   3/5/2026 1:03 PM  House Committee Substitute
 (c) One member of the Kentucky County Attorneys Association; and 1
 (d) One member representing community -based organizations, whether for -profit 2
-or nonprofit, with experience in programs fo r children and families, including substance 3
+or nonprofit, with experien ce in programs for children and families, including substance 3
 abuse prevention and treatment, case management, mental health, or counseling. 4
 Section 3.   The Child Welfare and Family Court Reform Task Force shall at a 5
 minimum meet monthly during the 2026 Interim of the General Assembly and shall 6
 submit recommendations to the Governor and to the Legislative Research Commission 7
-for referral to the Interim Joint Committee on Health Services by December 1, 2026. 8
-Section 4.   Provisions of this section to the contrary notwithstanding, the 9
-Legislative Research Commission shall have the authority to alternatively assign the 10
-issues identified herein to an interim joint committee or subcommittee thereof, and to 11
-designate a study completion date. 12
+for referral to the Interim Joint Committees on Families and Children and Judiciary by 8
+December 1, 2026. 9
+Section 4.   Provisions of this section to the contrary notwithstanding, the 10
+Legislative Research Commission shall have the authority to alternatively assign the 11
+issues identified herein to an interim joint committee  or subcommittee thereof, and to 12
+designate a study completion date. 13