This bill expands the definition of child abuse or neglect to include individuals aged 18 to 21, thereby broadening the legal understanding of "children" under the law. The revised definition now encompasses any person under 21 years of age who is alleged to have been abused or neglected, particularly in settings involving teachers, employees, or volunteers of care institutions. The bill also clarifies the responsibilities of parents or guardians and the criteria for identifying an "abused or neglected child," which now covers a wider range of potential harm and neglect scenarios. Additionally, it transfers the investigatory responsibility for incidents involving this age group from the Office of Program Integrity and Accountability in the Department of Human Services to the Department of Children and Families.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new reporting requirements for individuals working in state-funded programs or facilities, mandating immediate reporting of suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of individuals with developmental disabilities. It establishes penalties for failure to report such incidents and outlines the investigative procedures that the Department of Human Services must follow. The bill also includes provisions for timely reviews and reports from the Office of Investigations, safeguards for communication related to these incidents, and ensures that summaries of investigations are provided to guardians or responsible family members. It eliminates outdated references and mandates the creation of necessary regulations by the Departments of Children and Families and Human Services to implement these changes effectively.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 9:6-8.21, 30:6D-74, 30:6D-75, 30:6D-76