Citizen review panel -- Child Welfare Improvement Council -- Duties

(1) (a) The division may establish one or more citizen review panels to: (i) assist and advise the division as determined by the division; and (ii) comply with 42 U.S.C. Sec. 5106a(c). (b) Each panel shall be composed of volunteer members, including former consumers of services, who broadly represent the geographic community or topic area for which the panel is established. (c) A member of a citizen review panel may receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance with: (i) Section 63A-3-106; (ii) Section 63A-3-107; and (iii) rules made by the Division of Finance under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107. (d) The division shall provide staff to assist a citizen review panel in completing the panel's duties. (e) (i) A citizen review panel member or division staff assisting a citizen review panel may not disclose to a person or government entity identifying information about a specific child protection case that is provided to the citizen review panel. (ii) A citizen review panel member or division staff member who violates Subsection (1)(e)(i) may be subject to a civil fine not to exceed $500 for each violation. (2) There is established the Child Welfare Improvement Council as a citizen review panel. (3) The division may designate a child fatality committee, created in Section 26B-1-503, as a citizen review panel. (4) A citizen review panel designated by the division to fulfill the requirements of 42 U.S.C. Sec. 5106a: (a) shall meet at least quarterly; (b) may examine specific cases to evaluate the extent to which an agency is effectively discharging the agency's responsibilities in accordance with the state's plan submitted in accordance with 42 U.S.C. Sec. 5106a(b)(1) and the child protection standards set forth in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 5106a(b); (c) shall annually review findings related to the division made by the Division of Continuous Quality Improvement created in Subsection 26B-1-204(3); and (d) shall facilitate public outreach and comment in order to assess the impact of current procedures and practices upon children and families in the community.