The Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis will meet today about a bill co-sponsored by Newtown Representative Mitch Bolinsky.  The measure would study the voluntary admission program operated by the Department of Children and Families.

The bill would prohibit the agency’s Commissioner from requesting or requiring that parents of children admitted to the department on a voluntary basis terminate their parental rights or transfer legal custody to the department.

State Child Advocate Sarah Egan testified in support of the bill. She said it addresses petitions filed in juvenile court proceedings that may lead to a child being removed from a guardian solely due to the child’s specialized mental health or disability support needs.