Creating an administrative process for adjudicating department of children, youth, and families tort claims against the state.

HB 2706 creates a claims commission within the Office of Administrative Hearings to handle historical tort claims against the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) for incidents occurring before 2020. The commission, made up of an administrative law judge, a trauma specialist, a plaintiff's attorney, and state agency representatives, will review claims that meet existing filing requirements, with the state having sovereign immunity for these claims. Claimants who accept the commission’s award cannot pursue further legal action, but those dissatisfied may request a trial in superior court, aiming to reduce the state’s financial burden from a sharp rise in claims (from 157 in 2019 to 1,455 in 2025).