HCS HB 143 -- CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT REPORTS (Schoeller)

COMMITTEE OF ORIGIN:  Committee on Children and Families

This substitute changes the laws regarding hotline calls
reporting suspected child abuse or neglect to the Children's
Division within the Department of Social Services.  In its main
provisions, the substitute:

(1)  Requires each hotline and division case worker and the
circuit manager assigned to the county where an investigation
occurs that is involved in a case of a child's death or serious
injury to receive a preliminary evaluation by the division to
determine if a performance assessment to assess if the worker's
or manager's ability to competently perform his or her duties is
required.  If an assessment is required, it must be completed
within three days of the child's death;

(2)  Requires the division to review a case when three or more
calls regarding the same child are made to the hotline within a
72-hour time period to determine if the calls meet the criteria
and statutory definition for a child abuse and neglect report to
be accepted.  The review must include contacting the hotline
caller or callers to collect information to determine if the
calls meet the criteria for harassment;

(3)  Requires a hotline worker to instruct an individual to call
911 when a child may be in immediate danger;

(4)  Prohibits any person responding to a child abuse and neglect
investigation from calling prior to a home visit or leaving a
business card, pamphlet, or other similar identifying information
at a residence if:

(a)  No person is present at the time of the home visit and the
alleged perpetrator resides in the home or the child's safety may
be compromised if the alleged perpetrator becomes aware of the
attempted visit;

(b)  The alleged perpetrator will be alerted regarding the
attempted visit; or

(c)  The family has a history of domestic violence or fleeing the
community; and

(5)  Requires a person responding to or investigating a child
abuse and neglect report, if the alleged perpetrator is present
during the visit, to provide written material to the alleged
perpetrator informing the person of his or her rights regarding
the visit, including the right to contact an attorney.  The
alleged perpetrator must be given a reasonable amount of time,
not to exceed five minutes, to read the material or have the
material read to him or her before the visit commences.  This
requirement does not apply in a case where the child faces an
immediate threat or danger or if the person responding to or
investigating a report feels threatened or in danger of physical
harm.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2012, FY 2013, and
FY 2014.

Missouri House of Representatives
96th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated August 9, 2011 at 1:14 pm