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2000 SESSION

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SB 259 Child protective services.

Introduced by: Warren E. Barry | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED:

Child protective services. Requires the State Board of Social Services to implement emergency regulations on out-of-family child protective services joint investigations to be accomplished in consultation with state agencies with oversight of the protection of children. The bill mandates a report by the Commissioner of DSS to the General Assembly standing committee overseeing these issues by September 30, 2000, outlining the recommendations of the state board advisory committee that was set up to address all such out-of-family investigations.

SUMMARY AS PASSED SENATE:

Child protective services. Removes principals, assistant principals, supervisors or teachers employed by local school boards from the child protective services system for any allegation of abuse or neglect that occurs in the course of their regular or assigned educational employment activities. The bill provides that in such instance, the complaint shall be made to the division superintendent and to the attorney for the Commonwealth. If the complaint results in a conviction, the division superintendent and the attorney for the Commonwealth shall report such criminal conviction to the central registry of founded cases of abuse and neglect. Reports of principals, assistant principals, supervisors or teachers not occurring in the course of their regular or assigned educational employment activities or other local school board employees will continue to be investigated by local departments of social services. Persons who are mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect will still be required to report suspected cases of abuse and neglect by teachers, and teachers will remain mandatory reporters, as well. Employees in private schools will still be subject to investigation.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Child protective services. Removes employees of local school boards from the child protective services system. The bill provides that, if a complaint is made that an employee of a local school board has abused or neglected a child, the complaint will be made to the division superintendent and to the attorney for the Commonwealth. Reports of abuse and neglect by employees of local school boards will no longer be investigated by local departments of social services. The provisions regarding the central registry will no longer apply to teachers, so they will not be listed in the registry if they are convicted of child abuse in a criminal case. Persons who are mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect will still be required to report suspected cases of abuse and neglect by teachers, and teachers will remain mandatory reporters, as well. Employees in private schools will still be subject to investigation.