TITLE 56

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND WELFARE

CHAPTER 19

HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES OMBUDSMAN

56-1902.  powers and duties. The health and social services ombudsman shall:

(1)  Operate independently of the legislature, the courts, the department of health and welfare, and any other state agency or department;

(2)  Establish and manage a statewide procedure to receive, examine, and resolve complaints submitted pursuant to section 56-1903, Idaho Code;

(3)  Inform a service recipient or the service recipient’s legal guardian of the service recipient’s rights and obligations under applicable federal and state laws;

(4)  Collect and analyze each quarterly report issued by the citizen review panel pursuant to section 16-1647, Idaho Code, and any responses by the department of health and welfare or other relevant state department or agency;

(5)  Gather and analyze data to discern general patterns and trends, chronic problems, and other systemic challenges in the provision of health and social services, including but not limited to foster care or protective supervision services, and in the detection, reporting, examination, prosecution, and resolution of cases of abuse and neglect;

(6)  Review and recommend changes to laws relevant to the child protective act pursuant to chapter 16, title 16, Idaho Code, and the juvenile corrections act pursuant to chapter 5, title 20, Idaho Code;

(7)  Provide an annual report on the work of the office, the operation of child welfare in the state, and related recommendations to the governor, the legislature, the director of the department of health and welfare or other relevant state departments or agencies, the state public defender, and the courts; and

(8)  Establish internal procedures and educate the public about the role of the office.

History:

[56-1902, added 2024, ch. 188, sec. 2, p. 681.]