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H 7036Children

Delinquent and Dependent Children - Proceedings in Family Court

This bill lists specific state agencies and school districts that are required to cooperate and share information with the Family Court.

Signed into law65 Yea0 Nay10 Not voting
Population
Affected
15
Email Legislator
Introduced Jan 9, 2026Committee House Judiciary

Plain-English Summary

This legislation updates the existing laws governing the Family Court to explicitly list specific state departments and agencies that must cooperate with the court. While the law previously required general cooperation from officials, this bill specifically names the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, the Department of Health, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, all school districts, the Office of Substance Abuse, and the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals. It clarifies that these entities must provide assistance and information regarding children to the court upon request.

For younger readers

When a judge in Family Court has to make important decisions about a child, they need to know a lot of information to make the best choice. This bill creates a specific list of groups that promise to help the judge. This list includes schools, doctors, and people who help with feelings or family problems. The law says these groups must work with the court and share what they know so the judge can help keep children safe and healthy.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Children involved in Family Court proceedingsParents and GuardiansSchool DistrictsState Government Agencies (DCYF, BHDDH, etc)Family Court Judges and Staff
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
None
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Enhances the social safety net by ensuring that critical agencies, such as those handling mental health and human services, are legally mandated to coordinate with the Family Court for the welfare of vulnerable populations.
  • Promotes a holistic approach to child welfare by explicitly including educational and behavioral health data in court proceedings, ensuring judges have a complete picture of a child's needs.
  • Increases institutional accountability within state agencies to prioritize the needs of children involved in the legal system.
  • May raise privacy concerns regarding the sharing of sensitive medical, behavioral, and educational records with the court system without explicit consent in every instance.
  • Could potentially lead to increased surveillance of low-income families, who are disproportionately involved with the specific state agencies listed in the bill.
  • Might inadvertently criminalize non-legal issues by drawing a tighter connection between social service/educational support systems and the judicial system.
For Conservatives
  • Strengthens the rule of law by ensuring the judiciary has the clear legal authority to demand cooperation and information from bureaucratic agencies.
  • Increases government efficiency and accountability by defining exactly which departments are responsible for assisting the court, potentially reducing administrative delays.
  • Supports the protection of children—a traditional family value—by ensuring courts have all necessary data to make rulings on custody and safety.
  • Expands the reach of the court system into local school districts and medical providers, potentially infringing on local control and decision-making.
  • Raises concerns about the government's ability to share private citizen data between various departments without strict checks and balances.
  • Increases bureaucratic entanglement by codifying specific inter-agency mandates rather than relying on broader, less prescriptive cooperation.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 3 additions

SECTION 1. Section 14-1-59 of the General Laws in Chapter 14-1 entitled "Proceedings in Family Court" is hereby amended to read as follows: 14-1-59. Cooperation of public and private agencies. It is made the duty of every state, town, or municipal official or department, including, but not limited to, the department of children, youth, and families, the department of health, the department of human services, the department of elementary and secondary education, every school district, the office of substance abuse, and the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals, to render all assistance and cooperation within his, her, or its jurisdictional power which may further the objects of this chapter. All institutions or agencies providing services to any child are required to give to the court any information concerning the child that the court may require. The court is authorized to seek the cooperation of all societies or organizations having for their object the protection or aid of children, and their physical or spiritual welfare; and the court shall utilize the available services of all of those societies and organizations.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.