HI HB312

Requires the Department of Human Services to provide written notice of parental rights to parents at the time of initial face-to-face contact during child abuse or neglect investigations.

Written notice must include nine specific rights: right to refuse entry to residence, right to receive allegations before interview, right to refuse to speak with department, right to record the interview, right to attorney representation, warning that statements may be used in hearings, notice that DHS/police cannot provide legal advice, right to refuse to sign documents without attorney review, and warning about potential consequences of non-cooperation.

Department must make reasonable efforts to provide notice in a language understood by the parent and request parent signature; if parent refuses to sign, department must document the refusal and provide parent with a signed copy.

Requires school interviews of children to be recorded and retained in case files.

Notice requirement does not apply when a child is placed into emergency foster care on the same day as initial contact; notice must be retained in case file and attached to any subsequent court petition.