The bill establishes a statewide central registry for substantiated reports of child abuse or neglect, aiming to streamline the process of including individuals who have been determined to have abused or neglected a child. It removes the requirement for a notice and hearing before an individual is added to the registry, thereby expediting the inclusion process. The legislation also introduces new reporting requirements and outlines procedures for individuals to request expungement from the registry, ensuring that those listed are informed of their rights and the implications of their inclusion.

Additionally, the bill defines key terms related to child abuse determinations and sets forth a framework for expungement requests based on good cause, with a mandated review period of 30 days by the department. If a request is denied, individuals have the right to petition the district court for expungement. The bill also requires annual reporting to the legislature on statistics related to the registry and expungement requests. Significant deletions from current law include the removal of specific criteria for disclosing records related to child abuse, while maintaining confidentiality for authorized recipients and allowing family members to disclose proceedings. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_1(1): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_1(2): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_1(3): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_1: 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_2(1): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_2(10): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_2(11): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_2(12): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_2(13): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_2(14): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_2(2): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_2(3): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_2(4): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_2(5): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_2(6): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_2(7): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_2(8): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_2(9): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_2: 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_3(1): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_3(10): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_3(11): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_3(12): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_3(2): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_3(3): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_3(4): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_3(5): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_3(6): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_3(7): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_3(8): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_3(9): 41-3-202, 41-3-205
SB0468_3: 41-3-202, 41-3-205