CT SB01199

Establishes a differential response program allowing the Department of Children and Families to refer lower-risk child abuse and neglect reports to community providers for family assessment and services without a full investigation, provided initial safety assessment and criminal background checks are completed.

Removes poverty as a basis for finding a child neglected, specifying that no child may be found neglected solely because the child or youth is impoverished.

Removes "dependent" as a category of child in need of state intervention and replaces it with "abused" as a distinct classification in the statutory definitions.

Requires the Commissioner of Children and Families to submit annual reports on unauthorized absences of children and youth in the department's care, including data on number of episodes, duration, age groups affected, and strategies to reduce runaways and homelessness.

Contains two effective dates: July 1, 2011 for most provisions and July 1, 2012 for additional amendments to statutory definitions and court jurisdiction provisions.