The Child Safety and Custody Compliance Act aims to enhance child welfare by revising definitions related to child abuse and false reporting, and clarifying the responsibilities of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Child Protection Team investigators. Key provisions include the requirement for DCF to verify and enforce parenting plans or custody arrangements during investigations, and to report any violations to law enforcement. The bill mandates closer scrutiny of anonymous reports of child abuse compared to identified reports and removes the immunity previously granted to individuals making good faith reports of abuse. It also introduces criminal penalties for investigators who fail to perform their duties and expands the circumstances under which fines can be imposed for false reports.

Additionally, the bill reclassifies interference with custody as a criminal offense, defining specific actions that constitute such interference and establishing penalties for unauthorized release of students from schools. It emphasizes the importance of shared parental responsibility while considering the best interests of the child, particularly in cases involving domestic violence or child abuse. The legislation also regulates the handling of student health information, allowing school personnel to withhold certain information from parents under specific circumstances, and prohibits classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity for younger students. Overall, the act seeks to strengthen protections for children and streamline processes related to custody and visitation rights, with an effective date of October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 60 Filed: 39.201, 39.206, 39.301, 61.046, 402.57, 683.23, 741.28, 787.01, 787.03, 827.03, 61.45, 921.0022