The bill amends the Child Protection Law to enhance reporting requirements for suspected child abuse or neglect involving newborn infants affected by substances. It establishes that if a newborn is found to have any amount of alcohol, controlled substances, or their metabolites in their body, individuals mandated to report suspected abuse must notify the department in a prescribed manner. The department is then responsible for developing a plan of safe care for the infant and their parents, ensuring that services are provided during and after pregnancy, in coordination with the hospital if deemed appropriate.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that reports of suspected abuse are not required if the substances in the newborn's body are a result of medical treatment administered to the birth parent. It also specifies that a report is not necessary based solely on the presence of substances or reasonable suspicion of their presence unless the newborn's health or welfare is threatened by the parent's substance abuse. This aims to balance the need for child protection with the understanding of medical circumstances surrounding substance exposure.

Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 722.623