Vulnerable Children Amendment Act 2017

1 Title

This Act is the Vulnerable Children Amendment Act 2017.

2 Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day after the date on which it receives the Royal assent.

3 Principal Act

This Act amends the Vulnerable Children Act 2014 (the principal Act).

4 Section 8 amended (Preparation of vulnerable children’s plan)

In section 8(1), after “work together”, insert “, under the co-ordination of the chief executive of the department responsible for the administration of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989,”.

5 Section 9 amended (Content of vulnerable children’s plan)

In section 9, insert as subsections (2) and (3):

(2)

Without limiting subsection (1), the vulnerable children’s plan (and any draft of it) must—

(a)

set out the outcomes aligned with the Government’s priorities to be achieved in relation to children and young persons who have early risk factors for future involvement in the statutory care, protection, and youth justice systems under the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989:

(b)

set out the steps that the chief executives of the children’s agencies will take to achieve those outcomes:

(c)

apply to children and young persons receiving assistance or in care or receiving transition support from the department (irrespective of whether those persons are in need of care or protection) under Parts 2 and 7 of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 and to children and young persons who are subject to proceedings or orders under Part 4 of that Act (which relates to youth justice):

(d)

specify the steps that the chief executives of the children’s agencies will take to improve the well-being of children and young persons referred to in paragraph (c), including—

(i)

participation by the children’s agencies (and any contracted or related service providers) in assessment, planning, and decision making in relation to those children and young persons:

(ii)

the provision of services (including any contracted or related services where appropriate) to those children and young persons:

(e)

apply also to any other persons aged less than 21 years who have been in care under the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 or who are eligible for support under section 386A of that Act:

(f)

set out the steps that the chief executives of the children’s agencies will take to improve the well-being of persons aged under 21 years referred to in paragraph (e).

(3)

In this section, in care has the same meaning as in section 7(4) of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989.

6 Section 11 amended (Effect of vulnerable children’s plan)

In section 11(1)(a), after “been in force”, insert “and the progress that has been made in achieving the outcomes set out in the plan”.

7 Section 15 amended (Interpretation)

In section 15(1), replace the definition of child with:

child means a person who is under the age of 18 years

8 Section 23 amended (Interpretation)

In section 23(1), definition of key agency, after paragraph (d), insert:

(e)

the department responsible for the administration of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989

9 Schedule 1 amended

In Schedule 1, item 8, replace “sections 4(a)” with “sections 4(1)(a)”.

10 Schedule 2 amended

In Schedule 2, after clause 4, insert:

4A

An accessory after the fact to any offence referred to in clause 1 or 2 is a specified offence.

Legislative history

5 July 2017

Divided from Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Oranga Tamariki) Legislation Bill (Bill 224–2) as Bill 224–3A

6 July 2017

Third reading

13 July 2017

Royal assent

This Act is administered by the Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki and the Ministry of Education.