CCS/HCS/SCS#2/SB 155 - The act modifies reporting requirements for child abuse and neglect. There are provisions for the division of family services to expunge the information from reports against mandatory reporters when the report was found to be malicious, for purposes of harassment, or in retaliation. Such information shall be expunged forty-five days after the conclusion of the investigation. The same expungement requirements shall apply to all other reports filed. For reports filed by a mandatory reporter, where insufficient evidence of abuse or neglect is found by the division, the identifying information shall be retained for five years from the conclusion of the investigation. For all other reports where insufficient evidence of abuse or neglect is found by the division, identifying information shall be retained for two years from the conclusion of the investigation. At the end of the respective time period, the information shall be removed from the division and destroyed.
If a minor abuses another child, that minor cannot return to or reside in any residence within 1000 feet of the residence of the abused child, or any child care facility or school the abused child attends until the abused child is eighteen years old. These provisions do not apply if the abuse is between siblings.
ANDY LYSKOWSKI