An act relating to establishing the Critical Incident Review Team

This bill creates a new Critical Incident Review Team within Vermont's Department for Children and Families to internally evaluate serious events and improve child protection services. The team would investigate incidents involving child fatalities, near-fatalities, serious injuries, or other significant negative outcomes to identify areas for better support and policy changes. Members would include department staff and external experts, meeting monthly to produce confidential recommendations aimed at improving outcomes for children and families. The bill also protects the team's work by keeping all records and meetings confidential, exempting them from public records laws and legal discovery. The changes would take effect on July 1, 2024.