HF 3971 Summary

• Welfare agencies are not required to provide notice before conducting initial face-to-face contact with a child and primary caregiver if the report alleges maltreatment presenting significant safety concern.

• Child interviews must take place outside the presence of alleged offenders, parents, guardians, or school officials and must occur prior to interviews of those individuals; parental permission is not required for family assessments.

• Foster children over four years old must be interviewed outside the presence of their foster parents.

• Persons under 18 years of age who make a child maltreatment report or assist in an assessment or investigation are granted immunity from civil or criminal liability.

• Local welfare agencies must document information collected during family assessments in the child's or family's case notes.