SB 1021 Summary

• Adds children's advocacy centers as entities that can access confidential child protective services records when providing services to alleged abuse victims or their families.

• Expands the definition of "person responsible for the child's health or welfare" to include nonparent adults meeting specific criteria and employees/volunteers of licensed child care organizations and adult foster care homes.

• Requires the department to notify noncustodial parents of children suspected of abuse or neglect about how to modify custody or parenting time court orders.

• Establishes protocols requiring the department to determine if an open friend of the court case exists when investigations result in substantiated abuse findings, emergency removals, or family court jurisdiction.

• Mandates all department employees investigating child abuse and neglect cases receive training on protecting constitutional and statutory rights of children and families throughout investigations and service provision.