Statement on the new rules in the Care of Young Persons Act on decisions on taking samples prior to contact

Since 1 July 2022, there have been provisions in law, and in particular in the Care of Young Persons Act (LVU), which oblige a Social Welfare Board to check prior to contact, if there is reason to do so, whether a guardian or parent is or has been under the influence of, for example, drugs or alcoholic drinks. The Social Welfare Board may then decide that the guardian or parent must be asked to provide a blood, urine, breath, saliva, sweat or hair sample (decision on taking a sample).

In this decision, the Parliamentary Ombudsman gives his views on certain issues that have arisen as a result of the new provisions. According to the Parliamentary Ombudsman, in this case, the Social Welfare Board failed in several ways in its handling of the issue of taking samples and deserves to be criticised for this.