Act No. 154 Page 1 of 1
2024
This act summary is provided for the convenience of the public and members of the General Assembly. It
is intended to provide a general summary of the act and may not be exhaustive. It has been prepared by the
staff of the Office of Legislative Counsel without input from members of the General Assembly. It is not
intended to aid in the interpretation of legislation or to serve as a source of legislative intent.
Act No. 154 (H.661). An act relating to child abuse and neglect investigation and
substantiation standards and procedures
Subjects: Human services; Child Protection Registry; child and family welfare;
investigations
This act modernizes the Department for Children and Families (DCF) investigation
and substantiations standards and procedures when handling complaints related to child
abuse and neglect allegations. Specifically, this act raises the evidentiary standards to
substantiate an allegation to a preponderance of the evidence standard and enhances
timelines to respond to investigation and substantiation reviews. Additionally, the act
requires DCF to use best efforts to obtain the person’s current mailing and email address
so that it can better effectuate investigation, substantiation, review, and appeal
notifications, as well as maintaining records of any such notifications. The act also aims
to ensure broader disclosure of records to individuals requesting reviews or appeals.
Further, administrative reviews may be held electronically upon request or during a
declared state of emergency. The act also mandates the adoption of rules related to
placement on the Child Protection Registry (Registry), standards for determining child
protection level designations, and for notice and appeal procedures for alternatives to
conduct substantiation. Finally, the act requires DCF to author reports creating a model
policy related to confidentially storing child abuse and neglect investigation interviews
and related to substantiation determinations, categories, and thresholds for Registry
placement.
Effective Date: September 1, 2024
VT LEG #378057 v.2


Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 33-4912, 33-4915b, 33-4916a, 33-4916c, 33-4922
As Passed By the House -- Official: 33-4912, 33-4915b, 33-4916a, 33-4916c, 33-4922, 33-4903, 33-4911, 33-4916, 33-4916b, 33-4916d
As Passed By the House -- Unofficial: 33-4903, 33-4911, 33-4912, 33-4915b, 33-4916, 33-4916a, 33-4916b, 33-4916c, 33-4916d, 33-4922
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Official: 33-4912, 33-4915b, 33-4916a, 33-4916c, 33-4922, 33-4903, 33-4911, 33-4916, 33-4916b, 33-4916d
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Unofficial: 33-4903, 33-4911, 33-4912, 33-4915b, 33-4916, 33-4916a, 33-4916b, 33-4916c, 33-4916d, 33-4922
As Enacted: 33-4903, 33-4911, 33-4912, 33-4915b, 33-4916, 33-4916a, 33-4916b, 33-4916c, 33-4916d, 33-4922