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This bill makes several changes to protect children and young people in care. It bans strip searches of children in youth facilities and instead sets up proper search rules using body scanners. It requires a personal search plan for each child that takes into account their needs and past experiences. It also stops people convicted of sexual offences involving minors from working with children, and gives the government stronger powers to check that agencies are keeping proper records.
Tap a topic to see how this bill touches it, and the parts of the text that show it.
Strip searches of children in youth facilities are abolished, and new search rules using body scanners must respect each child's dignity and personal needs.
Section 384E repealed (Child or young person may be strip searched) — Repeal section 384E.
The chief executive must approve a search plan developed for each child or young person placed in a residence that reflects the child's or young person's particular needs and preferences relating to how any search of the child or young person should be conducted and by whom.
the need to uphold the mana and dignity of the child or young person to the greatest extent possible
This bill is open for public submissions to the Social Services and Community Committee. Anyone can tell the committee what they think, and you don’t need to be an expert. Submissions close 10 December 2024.
Bill text sourced from legislation.govt.nz (Parliamentary Counsel Office). Politika’s summary and breakdown are drafted with AI grounded in that official text and reviewed by an Politika editor for accuracy and neutrality before publishing. Politika is non-partisan and takes no position on this bill.
