The bill amends the Abuse and Neglect Act to enhance the sharing of information held by the Children, Youth and Families Department regarding child abuse and neglect cases. It introduces new definitions, such as "personal identifier information," which includes a person's name and contact details, and mandates the disclosure of information related to child fatalities or near fatalities. The bill also establishes that a written court order is necessary to exclude media from abuse or neglect proceedings, which can be appealed, and requires that reports be made available on the department's website. Additionally, it enhances confidentiality provisions by limiting the disclosure of personal identifier information during investigations, with exceptions for specific cases, and allows for the release of redacted information to researchers.

Moreover, the bill establishes a new section requiring the department to maintain a public dashboard that reports data on child fatalities, investigations, and placements, which must be updated quarterly. It also mandates the submission of an annual report to the governor and legislature detailing various statistics related to child welfare. The bill clarifies that the department is not obligated to disclose information that could jeopardize a criminal investigation and emphasizes the importance of protecting personal identifier information while promoting transparency and accountability in handling child abuse and neglect cases.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 32A-4-2, 32A-4-20, 32A-4-33, 32A-4-33.1
PA substitute: 32A-4-2, 32A-4-20, 32A-4-33, 32A-4-33.1