The bill amends the Child Protection Law to enhance reporting requirements for suspected child abuse or neglect in cases involving newborn infants affected by substances. It establishes that if a newborn is found to have any amount of alcohol, a controlled substance, or its metabolite 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. This notification requirement applies even if the substances are a result of medical treatment given to the birth parent.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that a report is not necessary if the substances in the newborn's body are known to be due to medical treatment administered to the birth parent. It also specifies that a report should only be made if the newborn's health or welfare is threatened by the parent's substance abuse, and not solely based on the presence of substances in the infant's body. The language of the bill includes several insertions to define these new requirements and conditions for reporting, while deleting previous language that may have been less clear or comprehensive.

Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 722.623