A child welfare commission was headed for the Nov. 3 ballot. Its bill is back on Council's calendar instead

At-large Councilmember Nina Ahmad wants voters to decide whether to write a Philadelphia Child Welfare Commission into the Home Rule Charter, the city's constitution. Her bill to put the question on the ballot named the Nov. 3, 2026 election. But the question isn't on next week's ballot, and the bill is back on Council's agenda for Thursday, Oct. 29.

The commission would give parents and young people who have been through the child welfare system a permanent, public role in watching how the city handles family cases. Ahmad wants it in the charter so a future mayor can't easily end it.

What the commission would be

When Ahmad introduced the plan in February, PhillyVoice reported that the commission would:

• have 15 members, including six parents, caregivers or adults who went through the child welfare system; a youth ombudsperson; a School District representative; mayoral appointees from the health, behavioral health and public health departments; and experts in child welfare advocacy, research or law;
• hold quarterly public meetings, publish an annual report and gather feedback from families and youth;
• help families learn about support options before the Department of Human Services gets involved.

Ahmad said a similar board existed under former Mayor Jim Kenney but lapsed after he left office at the end of 2023, PhillyVoice reported.

What our records add

• The ballot question. Bill 260076, as introduced (text), would ask: "Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to provide for the creation of a Philadelphia Child Welfare Commission, and to authorize City Council to determine the composition, powers and duties of the Commission?" It sets the vote for "the election to be held November 3, 2026." The charter language itself is in a separate resolution. The bill leaves its number blank.
• The record so far.

- Feb. 5: introduced and referred to the Committee on Law and Government (session). - May 28: approved in committee and given a first reading (session). - June 4: "Read and Passed" (session). - Sept. 17: "Reconsidered" and placed back on the second-reading calendar (session). - Our record has no roll call for the June vote.

• Not on the Nov. 3 ballot. The city's official ballot questions for Nov. 3 list two charter questions: contracting preferences for small businesses (Bill 260457) and Creative Philadelphia (Bill 260264-A). The child welfare question is not one of them. Our records don't say why the bill was reconsidered. As the bill text names Nov. 3, it would need a new election date to go to voters later.
• Sponsors. Ahmad plus 10 co-sponsors: Anthony Phillips, Curtis Jones Jr., Isaiah Thomas, Jamie Gauthier, Jim Harrity, Kendra Brooks, Mark Squilla, Mike Driscoll, Quetcy Lozada and Rue Landau. Not listed: Kenyatta Johnson, Cindy Bass, Jeffery Young Jr., Katherine Gilmore Richardson, Brian O'Neill and Nicolas O'Rourke. Eleven sponsors is a majority of the 17 members.

What's next

The bill is listed among 16 items for Council's Oct. 29 session. It has been on the calendar since Sept. 17 without being called. If it is amended, a new version would show up on its matter page. Philadelphia's next citywide election is the 2027 municipal election, the Inquirer has reported, starting with the May primary. Our guide to Thursday's agenda has the other items.