Section 19-3-903 - Task force on high-quality parenting time - creation - steering committee - membership(1) There is created in the office of the respondent parents' counsel created in section 13-92-103 the task force on high-quality parenting time, for the purpose of studying the issues set forth in section 19-3-904 and making findings and recommendations to the governor, the state department; the child welfare training academy, and the general assembly on administrative and legislative changes to improve high-quality parenting time services and practices in dependency and neglect cases.(2) There is created a steering committee for the task force. The members of the steering committee serve as the executive committee of the task force. The steering committee is composed of a representative of the following agencies or organizations, selected by the executive director of the agency or organization:(a) The office of the respondent parents' counsel;(b) The division of child welfare in the department of human services;(c) The office of the child's representative;(d) The child protection ombudsman's office; and(e) A statewide association of human and social services directors.(3) The membership of the task force must not exceed twenty-five members and, to the extent practicable, must include persons from throughout the state and must reflect the racial, ethnic, and geographic diversity of the state. The steering committee members are members of the task force. The steering committee shall jointly appoint the remaining task force members by consensus, or, if no consensus is reached, by majority vote of the steering committee. The remaining task force members must meet the following criteria:(a) One member representing the court improvement program;(b) One member who is either retired or currently serving as a judge or magistrate with experience in the child protection system;(c) Two members who represent service providers, with one member representing service providers who provide services in an urban county and one member representing service providers who provide services in a rural county;(d) One member who is a director or administrator of a county department;(e) Three members representing the county departments of human or social services, at least one of which must be a county attorney, with two members representing urban counties and one member representing a rural county;(f) One member who is a licensed psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, or therapist who works with children who have been abused or neglected;(g) Two parents with lived experience in the child welfare system, including a parent who has a disability or has a child with a disability;(h) Two members with lived experience in the child welfare system as children;(i) One member who is a foster parent or kinship provider;(j) A service provider who works with parents or children with disabilities;(k) A social worker, family advocate, or parent advocate with experience serving families in dependency and neglect cases; and(l) Any other individual or representative with relevant experience, as determined by the steering committee.(4)(a) The executive directors of the agencies or organizations specified in subsection (2) of this section shall appoint the steering committee members not later than fifteen days after July 7, 2021. Steering committee members serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.(b) The steering committee shall appoint the remaining task force members described in subsection (3) of this section not later than forty-five days after July 7, 2021, unless the steering committee by majority vote extends the time frame in which to appoint task force members. Each member of the task force appointed by the steering committee serves at the pleasure of the steering committee and may be removed by a consensus of the steering committee, or, if consensus cannot be reached, by majority vote of the steering committee.(5) The members of the task force serve without compensation and without reimbursement for expenses.(6)(a) The task force shall convene within thirty days after the final member has been appointed to the task force.(b) The task force shall elect a chair and vice-chair from among its members.(c) The task force shall meet at least monthly through September 2022, and may meet thereafter to complete its duties.(d) The steering committee may seek input from subject-matter experts or others to facilitate the work of the task force.(e) The steering committee shall select a facilitator to be funded through gifts, grants, donations, or federally allocated funds that may be used for this purpose, and is authorized to seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations.Amended by 2023 Ch. 284,§ 19, eff. 6/1/2023.Added by 2021 Ch. 481, § 5, eff. 7/7/2021.L. 2021: Entire part added, (HB 21-1101), ch. 3431, p. 3431, § 5, effective July 7.