This bill amends the Child Protection and Family Safety Act to enhance the reporting and handling of child abuse or neglect cases involving members of military families. It requires that upon receiving a report of child abuse or neglect, the Department of Health and Human Services must determine if the subject is a member of a military family. If confirmed, and the report is not deemed unfounded, the department is mandated to notify the appropriate military authorities and military family advocacy programs. Additionally, the bill establishes a requirement for the department to negotiate a memorandum of understanding with military family advocacy programs to outline procedures for reporting and maintaining confidentiality.

The bill also introduces new definitions, including "member of a military family," which encompasses individuals serving active duty in the armed forces and their dependents. It modifies existing provisions regarding notifications to include military authorities when the subject of a report is a military family member. Furthermore, it expands the list of entities with access to child protection case information to include military authorities and advocacy programs, ensuring they are informed and can provide necessary support in these cases. The original sections of the law being amended are repealed, streamlining the legal framework surrounding child protection in military contexts.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 28-710, 28-713.01, 28-726