SB 1133, An Act Limiting a Finding of Neglect or Risk of Injury to a Child in Certain Circumstances

Women and children who are Indigenous, Black, or experiencing poverty are disproportionately placed under child welfare scrutiny. Senate Bill 1133 erects reasonable guardrails on DCF’s ability to interfere with parents’ reasonable exercise of discretion in terms of independence and autonomy granted to their children. These decisions are unique to each child. Current Connecticut law broadly and vaguely defines child neglect and has not been updated for nearly fifty years. Senate Bill 1133 begins to address this flaw and is a good beginning step to reverse course against the overpolicing of children, mothers, and families.