Kentucky lawmakers discuss lapse in abuse database access during interim meeting

Members of the state legislature’s Interim Joint Committee on Families and Children discussed how to solve a lapse in access to abuse reports during an interim meeting Tuesday.

That comes after Senate Bill 48 was passed last legislative session. The bill moves the state ombudsman’s office from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) to under the state auditor’s umbrella.

The ombudsman investigates complaints towards state agencies, and the move is meant to improve transparency.

But the auditor’s office is not allowed access to the state’s iTWIST database, which logs reports of suspected child or elder abuse.

State auditor Allison Ball says that handicaps the ombudsman’s responsibilities.

“We continue to get complaints every day from the public and it needs to get resolved very, very quickly,” Ball said.

The auditor’s office and CHFS have been working on specific language to allow the ombudsman access through a memo of understanding, with the auditor’s office requesting “direct, full access” in simple terms.

“This is where we have a disagreement, but we will continue to try to resolve it, and you all have made it very clear that if this does not get resolved by 2025, you all will be back and resolve it,” CHFS secretary Eric Friedlander said.

Lawmakers present said they would introduce legislation early in the 2025 session to solve the issue if no agreement is made.

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