This bill mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) must verbally report any complaints of child abuse, neglect, or crime directly to an on-duty law enforcement officer in the relevant community immediately upon receiving the complaint. If no local officer is available, the report should be made to the state police. Additionally, the DHHS is required to create a written report within 24 hours of the complaint, which must now include weekends and holidays in the timeframe. The bill also revises the definitions of abuse and neglect, replacing outdated terms and expanding the categories of abuse that must be reported.

Furthermore, the bill grants law enforcement personnel and trained caseworkers the right to enter public places, such as schools and childcare agencies, to interview children without needing parental consent if there is reasonable belief of abuse or neglect. The changes aim to enhance the reporting process and ensure timely intervention in cases of suspected child abuse. The bill does not allocate new funding or positions but anticipates a need for additional staff and resources within the DHHS to manage the increased reporting requirements.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 169-C:38
HB767 text: 169-C:38