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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20132895.tiffWELD COUNTY CODE ORDINANCE 2013-8 IN THE MATTER OF REPEALING AND REENACTING, WITH AMENDMENTS, CHAPTER 10 SOCIAL SERVICES, OF THE WELD COUNTY CODE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF WELD, STATE OF COLORADO: WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Weld, State of Colorado, pursuant to Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners, on December 28, 2000, adopted Weld County Code Ordinance 2000-1, enacting a comprehensive Code for the County of Weld, including the codification of all previously adopted ordinances of a general and permanent nature enacted on or before said date of adoption, and WHEREAS, the Weld County Code is in need of revision and clarification with regard to procedures, terms, and requirements therein. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Weld, State of Colorado, that certain existing Chapters of the Weld County Code be, and hereby are, repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, and the various Chapters are revised to read as follows. CHAPTER 10 ARTICLE I Child Protection Citizen Review Panel Procedures and Conflict Resolution Process Amend Sec. 10-1-10. Enabling authority. Enabling authority for the Citizen Review Panel and conflict resolution process is found in Article 3, Part 2, Title 19, C.R.S. ("Colorado Children's Code"). Further authority is found at 12 C.C.R. 2509-5, Section 7.200.3. Amend Sec. 10-1-30. Definitions. The following definitions shall be applicable in the operation of the Citizen Review Panel. Action means duties performed by and decisions made by a Department employee to ensure the health, safety and welfare of children as prescribed by Colorado law. Actions include but are not limited to a decision to remove a child from the home or a finding of child abuse and neglect. Conduct means an illegal, malicious, negligent, or dangerous behavior by a county department employee when performing his/her duties under Article 3 of the Children's Code. Department means the Weld County Department of Human Services. 3972884 Pages: 1 of 4 10/23/2013 11:33 AM R Fee:$0.00 Steve Moreno, Clerk and Recorder, Weld County, CO ®iii Pkcd itYI!PM �YL�h 11111 1GE 1 cc: N%3 tPs/lier 1/8 2013-2895 ORD2013-8 Grievance means a complaint regarding an action taken by an employee of the department, or a complaint filed by a complainant concerning the conduct of Department employees in performing their duties under Article 3 of the Colorado Children's Code. The term does not include complaints regarding actions by the courts, attorneys, law enforcement officials, employees of the State of Colorado, foster parents or other providers of services to children, or other family members. Amend Sec. 10-1-70. Grievance process. A. Filing the grievance. 1. Written Grievance. The grievance must be submitted to the Administrative Liaison in writing no later than sixty (60) calendar days of the alleged incident of employee conduct which is complained of, and must state the following information. a. The complainant's full name and mailing address. b. A short, specific statement of the complainant's grievance. c. The applicable case name and number (if known). d. The resolution desired by the complainant. When a writing is received, within two (2) working days of such receipt, the Administrative Liaison shall determine whether the writing is a grievance as that term is defined in Section 10-1-130 of this Code, filed according to the time requirements set forth in this Section. If the writing sets forth a grievance and is timely filed, the Administrative Liaison shall transmit the grievance to the Department's Human Services Administrator, who shall attempt to resolve it informally. If the grievance is not resolved to the complainant's satisfaction, it shall be transmitted within ten (10) working days of its receipt by the Department to the Director for resolution. If the Administrative Liaison determines that the writing is not a grievance, the complainant may appeal such determination to the Board of County Commissioners, pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2-4-10 of this Code, with the exception that the written appeal must be received by the Clerk to the Board no later than thirty (30) calendar days following the Administrative Liaison's determination. 2. Director action. Regardless of whether the grievance concerns an action or the conduct of a department employee, the Director shall act upon the grievance within twenty (20) calendar days after he or she receives it by issuing a written decision. If the grievance is resolved to the complainant's satisfaction, the grievance is considered closed. a. If the grievance concerns an employee's conduct, is not resolved to the complainant's satisfaction within said twenty (20) calendar days, and the complainant has requested the grievance be referred to the citizen review panel, the Director shall refer the grievance to the Citizen Review Panel for consideration. 3972884 Pages: 2 of 4 10/23/2013 11:33 AM R Fee:$0.00 Steve Moreno, Clerk and Recorder, Weld County, CO rdriftFidifilia,KWIliffrillitkildivi, of III ,GE 2 2013-2895 ORD2013-8 b. Filing a grievance concerning an action by a department employee does not modify the time frames for pursuing other forms of relief available under Colorado statute or the rules governing child welfare services. If the grievance concerns an action by a department employee, and the complainant is not satisfied with the resolution, the complainant may pursue other forms of relief available under Colorado law. 3. Transmittal to Citizen Review Panel. The grievance shall then be transmitted within five (5) working days to the Citizen Review Panel, together with the Director's proposed resolution. 4. Citizen Review Panel to convene hearing. Within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt of the grievance from the Director, the Citizen Review Panel shall review or convene a hearing and send its written recommendation regarding the grievance, together with the basis for its recommendation, to the Director, complainant and subject employee. Amend Sec. 10-1-100. Reports. A. Annual report to State Department of Human Services. On or before July 31 of each year, the Administrative Liaison shall submit to the State Department of Human Services an annual report which includes the following information. 1. The number of grievances received by the Director. 2. The number of grievances referred to the Citizen Review Panel. 3. The number of grievances referred to the Board. 4. The actual time frames for resolving grievances at each level. 5. A copy of this grievance policy. 6. A list identifying the citizen review panel members. 7. A brief description of the disposition of the grievances, including the following: a. The number resolved without action taken. b. The number resolved by case reassignment. c. The number resolved by requiring additional training. d. The number resolved by imposing disciplinary action against a Department employee. e. The number resolved in other ways. 3972884 Pages: 3 of 4 10/23/2013 11:33 AM R Fee:$0.00 Steve Moreno, Clerk and Recorder, Weld County, CO �IIIkIri!('Ki' IiUI1I�f�'r4N�+1a fl 1111 li'llL®I III PAGE 3 2013-2895 ORD2013-8 BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Board that the Clerk to the Board be, and hereby is, directed to arrange for Colorado Code Publishing to supplement the Weld County Code with the amendments contained herein, to coincide with chapters, articles, divisions, sections, and subsections as they currently exist within said Code; and to resolve any inconsistencies regarding capitalization, grammar, and numbering or placement of chapters, articles, divisions, sections, and subsections in said Code. BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Board if any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held or decided to be unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions hereof. The Board of County Commissioners hereby declares that it would have enacted this Ordinance in each and every section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, and phrase thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses, or phrases might be declared to be unconstitutional or invalid. The above and foregoing Ordinance Number 2013-8 was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted by the following vote on the 14th day of October, A.D., 2013. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WELD CO NI Y COLORADO ATTEST: 011c.a..c.�.J�... Weld County Clerk to the Board BY Deputy ou y Attorney First Reading: Publication: I'm Garcia, Chair Douglas can P. Conway er, Pro-Tem I I CA -4 3L ke Freeman rbara Kirkmey September 4, 2013 September 11, 2013, in the Greeley Tribune Second Reading: September 23, 2013 Publication: October 2, 2013, in the Greeley Tribune Final Reading: October 14, 2013 Publication: October 23, 2013, in the Greeley Tribune Effective: October 28, 2013 3972884 Pages: 4 of 4 10/23/2013 11:33 RM R Fee:$0.00 Steve Moreno, Clerk and Recorder: Weld County, CO III! Ir rfdLRi DAM II III \GE 4 2013-2895 ORD2013-8 Hello