The bill amends the Children's Code to establish a framework for creating "plans of safe care" for newborns affected by substance exposure, introducing the definition of "substance-exposed newborn" as one affected by prenatal exposure to controlled substances, including drugs and alcohol. It mandates that hospitals and birthing centers develop guidelines for the care of these newborns, which includes creating a written plan of safe care to be shared with the child's primary care physician, care coordinators, and guardians at discharge. The bill also requires the collection and reporting of data related to these cases to monitor compliance and effectiveness.

Additionally, the bill clarifies the responsibilities of healthcare providers in reporting concerns about the safety of substance-exposed newborns and mandates assessments by the Department of Children, Youth and Families when compliance issues arise. It ensures that reports made under this framework are not classified as child abuse reports, thereby protecting family confidentiality. The bill also expands the definition of "school employee" to encompass all employees of a school district or public school, and it is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 32A-3A-2, 32A-3A-13, 32A-3A-14, 32A-4-3