SB2840 Summary

• Establishes mandatory reporting of child fatalities and near fatalities to the State Child Abuse Hotline by law enforcement officers, firefighters, medical personnel, and other designated reporters, with penalties for non-compliance ranging from $500 to $5,000 and up to one year imprisonment.

• Expands confidentiality waivers in youth court records to allow disclosure in cases of child deaths or critical injuries, permitting release of cause of circumstances, child's age and gender, previous abuse reports, and state actions related to the fatality or critical condition.

• Authorizes disclosure of youth court records to guardians ad litem and allows Department of Child Protection Services to share records with foster care agencies, service providers, schools, and health care providers as necessary for child welfare purposes.

• Clarifies that positive drug tests alone cannot establish probable cause for child custody except when evidence demonstrates actual harm to the child or parental inability to provide care due to controlled substance use.

• Requires all youth court oral orders and rulings to be reduced to writing within 48 hours and modifies parental power of attorney provisions to require stated reasons for custody transfer and mandatory background checks on non-relative designated caregivers.