§ 2.2-446. Confidentiality of record of Children’s Ombudsman; disclosure; limitations; release of certain information
A. Subject to subsections B through F, a record of the Office is confidential, shall only be used for purposes set forth in this chapter, is not subject to court subpoena, and is not discoverable in a legal proceeding. If the Ombudsman identifies action or inaction by the state through its agencies or services that […]
§ 2.2-447. Report of findings; recommendations; consultation with individual, Department, local department, or child-placing agency; publication of adverse opinion; notice of actions; information provided to complainant; child fatality investigation; report
A. The Ombudsman shall prepare a report of the factual findings of an investigation and make recommendations to the Department, local department, or child-placing agency if the Ombudsman finds any of the following: 1. A matter should be further considered by the Department, local department, or child-placing agency. 2. An administrative act or omission should […]
§ 2.2-448. Penalty for filing complaint or cooperating in investigation prohibited
A. An official, the Department, a local department, a child-serving agency, or a child-placing agency shall not penalize any person for filing a complaint or cooperating with the Ombudsman in investigating a complaint. B. An individual, the Department, a local department, an adoption attorney, a child-serving agency, or a child-placing agency shall not hinder the […]
§ 2.2-449. Children’s Advocacy Fund
There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Children’s Advocacy Fund, referred to in this section as “the Fund.” The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All funds appropriated for such purpose, and any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds received […]
§ 2.2-441. Individuals making complaint to Children’s Ombudsman
Any of the following individuals may make a complaint to the Ombudsman with respect to a particular child, alleging that an administrative act is contrary to law, rule, or policy; imposed without an adequate statement of reason; or based on irrelevant, immaterial, or erroneous grounds: 1. The child, if the child is able to articulate […]
§ 2.2-442. Children’s Ombudsman; powers
The Children’s Ombudsman has the authority to do all of the following with regard to children receiving child-protective services, in foster care, or placed for adoption: 1. Pursue all necessary action, including legal action, to protect the rights and welfare of such children; 2. Pursue legislative advocacy in the best interest of such children; 3. […]
§ 2.2-443. Victim of child abuse or child neglect; powers of Children’s Ombudsman; child fatality cases; investigation
A. The Ombudsman may do all of the following in relation to a child who may be a victim of child abuse or child neglect, including a child who may have died as a result of suspected child abuse or child neglect: 1. Upon the Ombudsman’s own initiative or upon receipt of a complaint, investigate […]
§ 2.2-444. Decision to investigate; notice; pursuing administrative remedies or channels of complaint; further investigation; violation of state or federal criminal law; complaint against child-placing agency; petition requesting court jurisdiction or termination of parental rights
A. Upon deciding to investigate a complaint from a complainant or an individual not meeting the definition of complainant, the Ombudsman shall notify the complainant or the individual not meeting the definition of complainant of the decision to investigate and shall notify the Department or local department, adoption attorney, or child-placing agency of the intention […]
§ 2.2-445. Department and child-placing agency; duties; information to be provided to biological parent, adoptive parent, or foster parent; access to departmental computer networks
A. The Department or local department and a child-placing agency shall do all of the following: 1. Upon the Ombudsman’s request, grant the Ombudsman or the Ombudsman’s designee access to all information, records, and documents in the possession of the Department or local department or child-placing agency that the Ombudsman considers relevant and necessary in […]
§ 2.2-436. Approval of electronic identity standards
A. The Secretary of Commerce and Trade in consultation with the Secretary of Administration, shall review and approve or disapprove, upon the recommendation of the Identity Management Standards Advisory Council pursuant to § 2.2-437, guidance documents that adopt (i) nationally recognized technical and data standards regarding the verification and authentication of identity in digital and […]